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Fine U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co., Henry Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:27,500.00 USD Estimated At:55,000.00 - 70,000.00 USD
Fine U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co., Henry Lever Action Rifle
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Fine U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co., Henry Lever Action Rifle

Manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., in December 1863. This rifle is one of 1,100 Henry Rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department to arm the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment. The first 300 Henry Rifles purchased for the 1st D.C. Cavalry were commercial production rifles in the 2000-3000 serial number range. This rifle is one of the 800 Henry Rifles in the 3,000-4,000 serial number range that were manufactured under an Ordnance Department Contract and stamped with Ordnance inspection marks. These are the only fully inspected Henry Rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department and carried in action during the Civil War. During April-May 1865 the Ordnance Department purchased 627 Henry Rifles to arm the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry; these rifles did not have Ordnance inspection marks and were issued too late to see action during the Civil War. The 1st D.C. Cavalry was commanded by Col. Lafayette Baker; provost marshal for the District of Columbia. Baker reported directly to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. The primary mission of the 1st D.C. Cavalry was to eliminate Confederate partisan rangers in Northern Virginia. In the summer of 1864, the 1st D.C. Cavalry was assigned to 1st Brigade, Katuz's Cavalry Division, Department of Virginia and saw extensive action in the Petersburg and Appomattox Campaigns. A large number of the U.S. contract Henry Rifles were captured by Confederate cavalry during the actions around Petersburg. Although many Henry Rifles were privately purchased by individual Federal soldiers during the Civil War, the 800 Henry rifle in the 3,000-4,000 serial number range are the only U.S. Ordnance inspected government issued Henry Rifles used in action during the Civil War. The rifle has a blue octagon barrel and integral magazine, casehardened hammer and lever and brass receiver and buttplate. The stock is varnished walnut. The barrel has a square back nickel silver front sight and dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch. The magazine has the second style, large, brass follower. The second style receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on rifles up to about serial number 3,000. The first style buttplate has a rounded heel. The rifle is correctly not fitted with a sling swivel on the stock and loop for a sling hook on the barrel. The butt trap contains an original four-piece jointed wooden cleaning rod issued with Henry Rifles in this serial number range. 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." This is the slightly larger, second style, legend with all Roman (serifed) letters that was first used around serial number 3700. The serial number "3726" is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver, on the lower left side of the receiver tang, in the upper tang inlet of the stock, on the inside of the buttplate and on the shanks of the two hand fitted buttplate screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The right side of the rifle barrel is stamped with the block "C.G.C." initials of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Charles G. Chapman. Chapman's inspection mark consisting of the script initials "CGC" with an oval border is stamped on the right side of the stock wrist. A single "H" New Haven Arms Co. inspection mark is stamped on the right side of the barrel below the sub-inspector's mark. An "HH" inspection mark is stamped on the right side of the receiver adjacent to the barrel inspection marks. A single "H" inspection mark is stamped on the right side of buttplate heel and an "H" mark is stamped immediately below it on the stock.

Manufucture: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: Henry Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Guage: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 3726

Fine. The rifle is completely original and retains traces of the original finish. The barrel has an untouched, deep brown, patina with smooth surfaces and sharp edges. The New Haven Arms legend, serial number, Ordnance and factory inspection marks are crisp. The brass receiver and buttplate have a very attractive, untouched, patina. The side plate joints are tight. Wear is limited to some minor dents on the lower edge of the left side plate and some insignificant scratches and handling marks on the rest of the receiver. The lever has the same dark brown patina as the barrel. Traces of the original case colors are visible on the sides of the hammer. The rear sight is original to the rifle but is missing the elevator bar. The stock is very good with most of the original finish. The stock shows service wear with minor dents and scratches. The Ordnance "CGC" inspection stamp on the right side of the stock wrist remains legible; only a few of the surviving U.S. Contract Henry Rifles have visible inspection marks on the stock. This is a fine, original, example of a Ordnance inspected, U.S. Contract Henry Rifle. It would be hard to improve on this fine example of a 1st D.C. Cavalry Henry Rifle.