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Desirable New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
Desirable New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle
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Desirable New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle

This is a nice representative example of a late Civil War production Henry lever-action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., c. 1865. The rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate and blue octagon barrel with correct irregular pattern integral 15-shot magazine. The hammer and lever are color casehardened. The stock is straight grain, oil finished American walnut. The rifle has the late production features which includes: nickel silver flat back rear sight blade, large diameter brass magazine follower, beveled follower cut-out in the receiver, late buttplate with sharply point heel, second pattern receiver with no rear sight dovetail and cap head buttplate screws. The left side of the stock has a factory swivel plate for a sling swivel and the left side of the barrel is fitted with a screwfastened factory loop for a sling hook. The buttplate has a hinged brass trap. The rear sight dovetail on the barrel is fitted with a fixed buck horn style rear sight. The top barrel flat is roll stamped with the larger second style legend "HENRY'S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO.NEWHAVEN.CT" with all Roman (serif) letters. The serial number "9994" is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight dove-tail and the receiver, the lower left side of the receiver tang, the upper stock inlet and the inside of the buttplate. The late style caphead screws on the buttplate and tang are correctly not stamped with the rifle serial number. The "H" inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower receiver tang. The Henry rifle achieved fame as the most advanced rifle available during the Civil War. Several thousand Henry rifles were purchased by individual Federal soldiers, primarily from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan who wanted the sustained fire power provided by the 15-shot Henry rifle. Following the Civil War, Henry rifles were popular on the frontier. A number of Henry rifles are known to have been used by Native American warriors against the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Henry rifle is one of the most historic American firearms and a key piece in any advanced Winchester, Civil War or western firearms collection.

Manufacture: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: Henry Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 9994

Very good plus. The rifle is original and is in much better than average condition for a Henry rifle. The crisp original barrel/magazine has an attractive gray-brown patina with some very fine pitting. The barrel legend and serial number are crisp. The rear sight is a period replacement (the folding leaf rear sights installed on Henry rifles were delicate and were frequently replaced with more robust fixed rear sights). The gun metal receiver and buttplate have a very attractive untouched mustard yellow patina. The side plate joints are tight with minimal edge wear. The receiver has some scattered light handling marks but no significant nicks or scratches. The buttplate is in the same condition as the receiver. The hammer and lever have a silver-gray patina with strong traces of the original case colors. The sling swivel has been removed from the stock swivel plate. The stock has scattered, minor handling marks. This is a good original example of a later production Henry rifle that would be a key piece in any collection of Winchester rifles.