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First Year Production Henry Lever Action Rifle with Original Sling

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:16,000.00 USD Estimated At:32,500.00 - 47,500.00 USD
First Year Production Henry Lever Action Rifle with Original Sling
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First Year Production Henry Lever Action Rifle with Original Sling

Henry lever action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., c. November 1862. The rifle has the distinctive gun metal brass receiver and crescent buttplate with 24-inch blued octagon barrel and integral magazine. The hammer and loading lever are color casehardened. The straight grain, black walnut, stock has a low-luster varnish finish. This rifle is one of the very rare Henry rifles with the sling swivel and sling hook loop mounted on the right side of the stock and barrel. Sling swivels were a special order feature on early production Henry rifles and were normally mounted on the left side of the stock and barrel. However, as a special order item, the customer could have the swivels be mounted on the right side of the stock and barrel. The rifle has the distinctive early features which include: (1) alternate rear sight dovetail on the receiver, (2) buttplate with rounded heel, (3) serial numbered buttplate and stock screws, (4) third variation, folding leaf rear sight with "1" (100 yard) marking on the base, "900" yard marking on the top of the leaf below the center notch and elevator bar with rounded ends, (5) small diameter magazine cartridge follower, (6) straight follower cut in the frame for the small cartridge follower and (7) stock with early perch belly profile and Henry Bump on the left side. The barrel has the second pattern, square back, nickel silver front sight blade. The butt trap contains an original four-piece jointed hickory cleaning rod. The rifle is fitted with a very rare Henry sling made of black saddle leather with brass buckle and iron sling hook. The serial number "1260" is stamped on: (1) the top of the barrel between the rear sight dovetail and the receiver, (2) on the lower left side of the tang beneath the stock, (3) on the inside of the upper stock tang inlet and (4) on the inside of the buttplate at the heel. The shanks of the hand-fitted fitted buttplate screws and upper and lower tang screws are stamped with the rifle serial number. All of the visible serial numbers match. The "H" inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower tang behind the lever latch. Matching assembly numbers are stamped on the inside of the barrel under the loading sleeve and on the rear face of the loading sleeve. The top of the barrel is stamped with the first pattern, short legend "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACTURED BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO. NEWHAVEN CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight dovetail. The legend uses Gothic (non-serifed) letters for "NEWHAVEN" and Roman (serif) letters for the remainder of the marking. The New Haven Arms Co., manufactured approximately 1,300 Henry rifles in 1862 as Oliver Winchester struggled to build a market for his advanced 15-shot repeating rifle. In 1863 and 1864 the advantages of the firepower provided by the Henry rifle became apparent and large numbers of rifles were purchased by individual Federal soldiers. Experts believe that most standard configuration Henry rifles manufactured between 1862 and 1865 were purchased by individual soldiers and saw some Civil War service. Henry rifles were especially popular with soldiers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan regiments. The rifle is accompanied by an evaluation letter by Rob Kassab of Boca Raton, Florida, that describes the rifle in detail.

Manufucture: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: Henry Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: varnished walnut
Guage: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 1260

Very good. The barrel and magazine have a smooth gray-brown patina overall The brass receiver and buttplate have a very attractive un-polished patina. The receiver is very fine with sharp edges, tight side plate joints and minimal handling marks and scratches. The buttplate matches the receiver in finish and condition. The stock is very good with minimal wear and retains a high percentage of the original varnish. All of the markings and serial numbers are crisp. The sling is supple with no faking on the finished leather and tight stitching. This is an outstanding example of a first year, Civil War production Henry lever action rifle complete with very scarce sling on special order sling swivels and original hickory cleaning rod.