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September 22, 2011
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While $5,875,000 seems like a huge amount for this Henry rifle, plus added fees, it seems very cheap compared to the high end art market. Almost makes the buyer of this rifle seem like a rookie:
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-expensive-auction-works-2025
April 30, 2023
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On a side note, to kick off the auction (America’s 250th celeb), they brought in a 101 yo WWII Marine who, according to them, was a flame thrower and witnessed the iconic raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. He then sang God Bless America and did a great job. Couldn’t have dreamed up a better way to start it off!
March 14, 2022
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mrcvs said
While $5,875,000 seems like a huge amount for this Henry rifle, plus added fees, it seems very cheap compared to the high end art market. Almost makes the buyer of this rifle seem like a rookie:
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-expensive-auction-works-2025
I agree, but then again this is not your average Henry rifle. SN 1 in any model always seems to command the biggest premium and prices. Not sure how much the buyer also valued the provenance with this one but I would guess a substantial amount.
Rick C
September 22, 2011
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Rick C said
mrcvs said
While $5,875,000 seems like a huge amount for this Henry rifle, plus added fees, it seems very cheap compared to the high end art market. Almost makes the buyer of this rifle seem like a rookie:
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-expensive-auction-works-2025
I agree, but then again this is not your average Henry rifle. SN 1 in any model always seems to command the biggest premium and prices. Not sure how much the buyer also valued the provenance with this one but I would guess a substantial amount.
I would. The provenance and engraving is actually more important to me—in this case—than the provenance. Largely because of this:
https://www.si.edu/object/henry-presentation-rifle%3Anmah_881516
I’m surprised that Edwin M Stanton got the serial number 1 rifle and Lincoln got serial number 6, and not the other way around.
December 9, 2002
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Could be politics we’re involved giving number one to his most dependable confidant! What did he care if he got #6 or #1? He still got one!!!
Tony
January 20, 2023
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I’d wondered about that too, Ian. But I think it illustrates Oliver Winchester’s thinking that the Secretary of War was the official most directly involved with arms selection for the Union and the one whose opinion on that subject would be accepted by Lincoln.
Historians agree Stanton was the most effective cabinet officer in that government and the one most trusted by Lincoln to reorganize the army and make sure it was well supplied. At the time, no uniformed officer had that kind of influence.
Stanton stood out and was the man Winchester was astute enough to focus on. Not that it helped.
General Ripley, the Chief of Ordnance adamantly opposed on principle to repeating rifles, was not wrong to thwart adoption of the Henry for general infantry issue. Had Winchester gotten his desire, realities of the battlefield environment (Chickamauga, The Wilderness, Vicksburg and Port Hudson) might well have poisoned the Winchester brand for a long time.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
September 19, 2014
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Bill and others, I’ve enjoyed reading the comments. Most have little to nothing to do with the rifle, itself. Many conjecture on the buyer, especially on how he was dressed, etc. He may be but the agent for putting the Henry and a few others into a vault for some investor or consortium of investors who only see an object. Mention was made about “art” and that may be very close to reality. For all that, we are just guessing and its of no import other than the value we can not even dream of approaching. This and other valuable rifles may not see the public again in our lives. But it and others will build cash value for the owner or owners as an investment piece. My thoughts and nothing about Stanton, other than impact on the investment. Tim PS, wouldn’t it be nice to see it on a table at Cody?!
April 30, 2023
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tim tomlinson said
Many conjecture on the buyer, especially on how he was dressed, etc.
To be clear, he WAS wearing more than shorts and flip-flops.
November 7, 2015
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Jeremy P said
tim tomlinson said
Many conjecture on the buyer, especially on how he was dressed, etc.
To be clear, he WAS wearing more than shorts and flip-flops.
Yep, I’m thinking a black cap.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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Having met some of the Strange Rangers in the PNW tech industry who, having been early employees and thus stock or option holders become wealthy after big public offerings drove the value of their securities into the Stratosphere — I do not doubt the winner of this rifle could be one of them. If so, he may have considered himself formally attired, as if for a board of directors meeting.
As likely, he was a paid agent of a foundation, museum, wealthy family, or consortium of investors. When you wield that size checkbook, you can dress like the 800 pound gorilla you are to the guy at the podium.
My comments on Stanton are directly germane to provenance and relative value of the Henry discussed.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
September 22, 2011
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Zebulon said
Having met some of the Strange Rangers in the PNW tech industry who, having been early employees and thus stock or option holders become wealthy after big public offerings drove the value of their securities into the Stratosphere — I do not doubt the winner of this rifle could be one of them. If so, he may have considered himself formally attired, as if for a board of directors meeting.
As likely, he was a paid agent of a foundation, museum, wealthy family, or consortium of investors. When you wield that size checkbook, you can dress like the 800 pound gorilla you are to the guy at the podium.
My comments on Stanton are directly germane to provenance and relative value of the Henry discussed.
You would think at the very least, if attending a high end auction such as this one you could at least wear a pair of khakis and a polo or Hawaiian shirt…
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