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Extremely Rare as Identified 1st District of Columbia Cavalry U.S. Civil War Contract Henry Lever Ac

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare as Identified 1st District of Columbia Cavalry U.S. Civil War Contract Henry Lever Ac
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Extremely Rare as Identified 1st District of Columbia Cavalry U.S. Civil War Contract Henry Lever Action Rifle

This U.S. contract Henry rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in late 1863. This rifle was one of the 800 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department on December 30, 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment. The 800 1st D.C. Cavalry rifles are the only fully inspected Henry rifles. The Ordnance Department purchased a total of 1,731 Henry rifles during the Civil War. Some 300 of these rifles were purchased from existing commercial stocks in 1863. The final group of 629 Henry rifles were purchased in April-May 1865 for issue to the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry but did not see combat. The 1st D.C. Cavalry was the only unit in the Civil War armed entirely with Henry rifles. Commanded by an associate of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, the 1st D.C. Cavalry was raised for police and provost duty in the District of Columbia under the direct orders of Secretary Stanton. In late 1863 the 1st D.C. Cavalry was assigned to suppress Confederate partisan rangers in Northern Virginia led by Colonel John S. Mosby. In May 1864 the regiment was re-assigned to the 1st Brigade, Kautz's Cavalry Division, Department of Virginia. During May-August 1864, Kautz's Division fought a number of actions near Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. In August 1864 seven companies of the 1st D.C. Cavalry were transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry regiment. The 1st Maine Cavalry fought around Petersburg in 1864-1865 and were present when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House. A number of the 1st Maine/1st. D.C. Cavalry Henry rifles were lost in engagements with Confederate cavalry. Some of these Henry rifles were subsequently used by Confederate forces. Members of the escort for Confederate President Jefferson Davis were armed with Henry rifles when he surrendered to Federal forces. The initials "P McC" are lightly scratched on the right side plate of the rifle. Copies of the extensive official enlistment, service, pension records and unit history that accompany the rifle identify the initials as those of Pvt. Peter McCue, Co. B, 1st D.C. Cavalry. The documents further indicate that Pvt. McCue was severely injured when he was trampled by a cavalry horse following a skirmish with Mosby's rangers near Annandale, Virginia on October 22, 1863. One of Mosby's rangers was killed and three others were captured in the skirmish. Private McCue only partially recovered from his injuries. He was mustered out of service in late 1865, and subsequently died of lung disease in a Washington D.C. military hospital on January 18, 1868. The rifle has the typical features found on U.S. contract Henry rifles in the 3,000-4,000 serial number range. These features include a half-moon shaped nickel silver front sight blade, a folding leaf rear sight mounted in the barrel dovetail, a large diameter magazine follower, a beveled magazine follower cut-out, the Second Style gun-metal (brass) receiver without rear sight dovetail, a straight grain American walnut stock with no sling swivel and the first pattern gun metal buttplate with rounded heel and hinged brass trapdoor. The 24 inch barrel has the distinctive integral 15-shot magazine and pivoting loading gate. The left side of the barrel is not fitted with the special order loop for a sling hook. The top barrel flat is rollstamped with the two-line legend "HENRY'S PATENT.OCT.16.1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." The legend is the larger Second Style with all Roman (serifed) letters. The serial number "3846" is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight dovetail and the receiver, on the lower left side of the receiver tang, on the inside of the buttplate below the trapdoor and on the shanks of both hand fitted buttplate screws. The tang screws are correctly not serial numbered and the serial number normally present in the upper stock inlet was obliterated from contact with screws from a tang mounted rear sight. The rifle has the Ordnance Department and New Haven Arms Co., inspection marks found only on the 800 Henry rifles purchased for issue to the 1st D.C. Cavalry. These markings include the block initials "C.G.C." of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Charles G. Chapman stamped on the right side of the barrel adjacent to the receiver, a single block "H" New Haven Arms inspection mark stamped on the right side of the barrel below the "C.G.C." mark, an "HH" New Haven Arms inspection marks stamped on the right side of the receiver adjacent to the barrel markings, an Ordnance inspection cartouche consisting of the script initials "CGC" with an oval border on the right side of the stock wrist and a block "C" sub-inspection mark on the right side of the buttplate heel. The rifle is accompanied by extensive material on Pvt. McCue and the 1st D.C. Cavalry.

Manufacture: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: Henry Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 3846

Good. The rifle shows wear expected of a combat used firearm. The barrel has a smooth plum brown patina with sharp edges and only a few scattered and very minor spots of pitting which has been touched up with browning solution on center right. The New Haven Arms legend, serial number and barrel inspectors marks are crisp. The late pattern rear sight is graduated to 900 yards and has an elevator bar stop screw at the top of the leaf; the rear sight is a replacement and may be an excellent reproduction. The magazine follower has been drilled and fitted with a loop and leather thong. The receiver is good with an attractive untouched patina. The side plate joints are tight. Receiver wear is limited to some minor scratches primarily on the left side around the lever screw and some small patches of age discoloration. The upper receiver tang has been drilled and tapped for a rear sight and is fitted with brass filler screws. The "P McC" markings on the right side plate are faint but legible. The case colors on the hammer and lever have aged to a mottled brown patina. The stock is good overall with extensive handling marks. The oval Ordnance inspection cartouche on the right side of the stock wrist is faint but visible (few U.S. contract Henry rifles have visible stock inspection marks). The buttplate is good overall with an untouched aged patina and light handling marks. The follower and tang alterations are period and were done during the working life of the rifle. It is not unusual to encounter identified Second Contract Henry rifles issued to the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry. However, combat used fully inspected First Contract Henry Rifles identified to a member of the 1st D.C. Cavalry are rare. This is a good example of an identified Ordnance inspected combat used 1st D.C. Henry Rifle.