1502

Early Production New Haven Arms Co. Henry Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:16,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Early Production New Haven Arms Co. Henry Rifle
This Henry lever action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in December 1862. The rifle has the early style receiver with rear sight dovetail and buttplate with rounded heel. The barrel has a nickel silver front sight blade and dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch. The frame is fitted with the loading lever latch adopted about serial number 300. The butt trap contains an original, four-piece jointed hickory cleaning rod. The rifle does not have the special order sling swivel and loop for a sling hook found on some Henry rifles. The rifle has a blued barrel, brass frame and buttplate, casehardened hammer and loading lever and varnished walnut stock. The top of the barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "HENRY'S PAT. Oct. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." ahead of the rear sight. "HB/4" is stamped on the buttplate above the trap; the significance of this marking is unknown (a number of Henry rifles in this serial number range are documented as being privately purchased by members of the 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Western Sharp Shooters"). The serial number "1279" is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and receiver, on the inside of the buttplate, the lower left side of the receiver tang and the upper stock inlet. The shanks on the buttplate screws are stamped with the partial serial number "279" and the tang screws are stamped with the full serial number "1279". All of the visible serial numbers match. The legendary Henry lever action rifle was the forerunner of the Winchester Model 1866, 1873 and 1876 rifles. It was the most advanced weapon to see action during the Civil War. Most of the 8000 plus Henry rifles manufactured between April 1862 and February 1865 were privately purchased by Federal soldiers and saw service in the Civil War. Henry rifles were especially popular with soldiers in the Federal Army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Tennessee; several Illinois infantry regiments were armed primarily with privately purchased Henry rifles. After the Civil War, the Henry rifle was widely used in the frontier West. Archeological evidence indicates that many Sioux and Cheyenne warriors were armed with Henry rifles when they defeated Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
BBL: 24 Inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 1279
Condition: Very good. The rifle barrel has been professionally refinished. The barrel address and legend are clear, the edges on the barrel are sharp and the barrel shows minimal scratches or pitting. The brass receiver and buttplate have an extremely attractive mustard-colored patina. The side plate joints are tight. The receiver shows minimal handling wear with only a few scattered and very minor dents and scratches. The hammer has traces of the original casehardened finish. The lever has a brown patina with some age texturing. The stock is in very good condition. Most of the original 'piano finish' varnish is intact. Wear is limited to some minor dents and light scratches. This is a good looking example of an early production Henry rifle that most likely was used in the Civil War.