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Civil War Production New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:22,500.00 - 32,500.00 USD
Civil War Production New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle
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Estimate: $22500 - 32500
Manufacturer: New Haven Arms Co. Model: Henry Rifle
This is an example of a Henry lever action rifle that was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in late 1863 or early 1864. The rifle serial number, "3864" is close to the serial number range of the approximately 900, (3000-3900), Ordnance Department inspected Henry rifles purchased to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment in late 1863. Experts believe that most of the Henry rifles manufactured between 1862 and 1865 were purchased by individual Federal soldiers who wanted the obvious advantages of a 15-shot repeating rifle. Henry rifles were especially popular with soldiers from Midwestern regiments. By 1864 at least two Illinois regiments (7th and 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry) were armed primarily with privately purchased Henry rifles. The rifle has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine, brass receiver and crescent buttplate. The barrel was blue, and the hammer and loading lever casehardened. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT.16.1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO.NEWHAVEN.CT" with all serifed letters. The barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade and a dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 1,000 yard center notch. The Second Style receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on Henry rifles with serial numbers below 3,000. The First Style brass buttplate has a rounded heel and a spring loaded brass trap door. The left side of the straight grain walnut stock and the left side of the barrel are not fitted with the sling swivel and sling loop which were special order items until 1864. The brass magazine follower is the larger Second Style and the rifle has the Second Style loading lever with spur to engage the half moon shaped loading lever latch on the lower tang. The serial number, "3864", is stamped on the top barrel flat behind the rear sight, on the left side of the lower receiver tang, in the upper receiver tang inlet of the stock, on the inside of the buttplate and on the shank of both hand-fitted buttplate screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The later style cap-head tang screws are correctly not serial numbered.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 3864
Condition:
Very good. The barrel has a very attractive plum brown patina with sharp edges and smooth metal surfaces showing a few scattered small dents along both sides. The receiver and buttplate have a very attractive unpolished patina. The receiver shows typical handling wear on the edges and side joints, and shows some scattered minor dents and scratches. Overall the rifle shows the typical wear of a Civil War weapon having seen battle. The hammer and loading lever have a mottled silver brown patina. The markings are crisp. The stock has been light sanded and re-oiled but remain good. The cartridge follower and spring are both period replacements. This is a solid example of a Civil War production Henry lever action rifle.