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Rare New Haven Arms Henry Rifle with Japanese Markings

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Rare New Haven Arms Henry Rifle with Japanese Markings
This New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle was manufactured in April 1865. This rifle was one of an unknown limited amount of Henry rifles shipped to Japan by the New Haven Arms Company in an effort to sell firearms to the Imperial Japanese government. The top of the receiver is engraved with Japanese characters. This rifle is one of the Japanese-marked Henry rifles that was returned to the United States by U.S. occupation troops stationed in Japan after WWII. The rifle has the standard blued barrel with integral 15-round magazine, casehardened hammer and loading lever and brass receiver and buttplate. The walnut stock has a varnish finish. The rifle has a nickel-silver front sight, adjustable folding leaf front sight with 900 yard center notch mounted on the barrel dovetail and special order sling swivel on the left side of the butt and sling loop on the left side of the barrel. The buttplate has the late pointed heel. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "HENRY'S PAT. OCT.16.1860./MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number, "9092" is stamped: (1) on the top of the barrel behind the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the lower left receiver tang, (3) the upper tang inlet of the stock and (4) the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late pattern, buttplate and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered. A small "H" New Haven Arms inspection mark is stamped on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw hole. The rifle is complete with the late pattern, four-piece, jointed steel cleaning rod with brass tip.
BBL: 24 Inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 9029
Condition: Fine. The barrel retains 40% of the original blue finish; the blue has faded to a plum-brown patina. The edges of the barrel are sharp and the barrel legend and serial number are crisp. The brass receiver is in very fine condition with a mellow, untouched, age patina. The receiver shows only light handling and storage marks. The Japanese markings on the top of the receiver are crisp. The side plate joints are tight and free from pry marks. The bolt retains much of the original niter blue finish. The hammer and loading lever retain most of the original casehardened finish. The buttplate has the same mellow age patina as the receiver. The stock is in fine condition with scattered handling and storage marks and most of the original varnish finish. The bore is bright. This is an exceptional example of a completely original and untouched New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle with unique Japanese markings.