One particular article from the February, 1929, American Rifleman, entitled A Few Practical Rifle Notes by Melville H. Haskell, inspired him to have one of the neatest retro carbines I’ve seen fabricated. "The article discussed the advantages for the horseman of “Trapper” rifles of various types with barrels that would now make them classified as short-barreled rifles (SBRs) under the 1934 National Firearms Act. Included are classic lever action Trapper Models such as the Winchester 94, but also a Winchester M1907 with a cut down barrel. My friend was inspired by the article to purchase a Winchester 1907, register it as an SBR, and have the barrel cut to 10.5 inches, just in front of the cocking plunger for the rifle."  

Bert - the link works for me when I select it while in this website.  I’m mostly computer stupid so I don’t know how to address this problem if it doesn’t work for anyone else.

We don't know right now who the real buyer is and there is the possibility it is a philanthropist who will do the right thing. 

The best thing we as a group could do is ask our Congressional reps and Senators to explore acquiring it for the Smithsonian -- that is, suggesting funding for that purpose. 

I'm out of my depth but it couldn't hurt to ask.

John Lindly said
The ruining for collector interest and value, I get.  The short stroke might not be a problem as this has been done before…….
https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/winchester-1907-351sl/476223
  

Your link does not work.

If you reload the 351 cartridge with a faster burning powder, then yes, the "short stroke" can be mitigated.  If you shoot standard factory ammo, the odds are that it will not function correctly.

Bert

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
  

Ian -

I looked at each of the art works featured - and the corresponding high bid.

You make an excellent point.

It appears you have something I've read exists but have never seen - a 20 round 1907 magazine. Does it have a ball bearing follower? If all those 10 round magazines are factory issue, you have a real treasure trove. 

https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/winchester-1907-351sl/476223

Zebulon said
I wonder what other pieces are being "released" from the Robert M. Lee collection?
I didn't know who he was, so I looked him up. Thinking others may be wondering as well, here's what I found: 
Lee was an American who became a professional hunter and safari organizer, who popularized Angola as a safari destination. He founded Hunting World, a supplier of hunting gear that expanded into fashionable bags and leather goods. 
He must have done well because he became a serious arms and car collector and owned millions of dollars in real estate.
Lee died in Reno, Nevada in 2016. 
  

Interesting that Mr. Lee passed away ten years ago (at the age of 88) so I wonder if this rifle has just been hidden in deep storage all that time.

Mr. Lee was an interesting fellow with an early beginning:

 At age 14, Bob Lee designed a unique telescopic sighting tool, called the Lee Mount and at age 17 designed and manufactured a range of several ultra-high-velocity rifle cartridges, such as the .358 Lee Magnum and the .424 Lee Magnum — each notably listed in Volume 1 of P.O. Ackley’s, “Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders.”

I was quite interested in the shooting hobby area at age 17, but I wasn't designing (and manufacturing) my own line of wildcat cartridges.

Cutting the barrel down would be an absolute colossal mistake! 

Further, it would most likely affect the semi-auto function of gun, reducing it to a single shot.  With the balanced weight blow-back action, shortening the barrel would likely cause the breech bolt to short cycle.

Bert

http://library.centerofthewest.org/digital/collection/p17097coll30/id/5902

Photos of buttstock and 1930s gangster kit.

Side Note: I have not seen, except in presentation pieces, wood this nice on any 1907 including my own deluxe/fancy 1907.  Anybody else have a 1907 with deluxe-level wood that is just a standard model?

Dilemma- I was going to have the barrel cut down to a SBR to go in my short barrel carbine collection.  Don’t know if I should now given the history and wood.  What say ye?

Zebulon said
Rick, we can hope the new owner will loan it to a reputable museum for public display. It would be a shame to hide it away in a vault beyond all access and to display it would not diminish its value. 
Stanton's Henry #1 really belongs in the Smithsonian because it is such an important piece of Americana. It would be one hell of a charitable tax deduction. 
My biggest concern is whether it was acquired by foreign money to be offshored.  
  

It’s interesting you mention that, as I thought a museum might have tried to acquire that.  If not, they should have.

I once bid on a Smith & Wesson revolver that was purchased for display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  So it does happen…

Can the Smithsonian even use Federal funds for acquisitions?  This rifle belongs alongside Lincoln’s.

Stanton's Henry #1 really belongs in the Smithsonian because it is such an important piece of Americana. It would be one hell of a charitable tax deduction. 

My biggest concern is whether it was acquired by foreign money to be offshored.  

mrcvs said

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…
  

Lol that’s funny Bill.
I’ve enjoyed this thread and taken all the comments and replies interesting and with light hearted humour. I guess when the hammer price is so far beyond what the average collector can even imagine, it draws some conjecture in other areas and the mind to wonder who and how. It’s certainly one for the record books and it’s just not reality for the majority of us. Window shopping at its finest. 

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…