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Scarce Martially Inspected Civil War 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry Henry Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Scarce Martially Inspected Civil War 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry Henry Lever Action Rifle
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Scarce Martially Inspected Civil War 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry Henry Lever Action Rifle

This is a Henry lever action rifle that was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., in April/May 1865. This rifle is one of the 127 Henry rifles in the 8400-9400 serial number range purchased by the Ordnance Department for issue to the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry (3rd VVI) Regiment. The 3rd VVI was one of four U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiments recruited in late 1864 and early 1865. The VVI regiments were an elite corps of veteran soldiers armed with Henry, Sharps and Spencer rifles. As an enlistment incentive, the members of the VVI regiments were allowed to keep their rifles when they were discharged from the service. The Ordnance Department purchased a total of 627 late production Henry rifles to arm the 3rd VVI. The only government markings on these Henry rifles are three small, block letter, initials stamped on the left side of the stock wrist. The VVI regiments were organized too late to see combat during the Civil War; the 3rd VVI was mustered out of federal service at Camp Butler, Illinois, in July 1866. The rifle has the distinctive Henry brass receiver and crescent buttplate with 24-inch octagon barrel and integral 15-round magazine. The barrel/magazine is blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are color case-hardened. The stock is straight grain American walnut. The rifle has the late pattern features that include: buttplate with sharply pointed heel, second style receiver without the rear sight dove-tail, large diameter follower, beveled receiver follower slot, and nickel-silver, straight back, front sight blade. The barrel has the final pattern, folding leaf, rear sight with elevator bar stop screw and 900 yard center notch. The left side of the stock and barrel are equipped with the sling swivel and screw-fastened sling hook loop that were standard on later production Henry rifles. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the second style legend "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The second style legend is slightly larger then the marking on 1863 and earlier Henry rifles and has all serifed (Roman) letters. The serial number, "9162." is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The serial number, "9162", is also stamped on the left side of the lower receiver tang, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late style, caphead, buttplate screws and tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered.

Manufacture: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: Henry Rifle
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 9162

Fine. The rifle is all original. The brass receiver and buttplate have a very attractive, untouched, patina. The receiver side plate joints are tight and free from marks. The side plates are tightly fit to the receiver. Wear on the receiver and buttplate is limited to minor handling marks and scratches. The barrel/magazine has an even, blue-gray patina. Metal surfaces are generally smooth and the barrel edges are sharp. The New Haven Arms legend and serial number are sharp. The rear sight is complete and original to the rifle. The hammer, lever and trigger retain traces of the original casehardened finish with a smooth, silver-gray, patina. The bore is bright which is very unusual for a Henry rifle. The stock is in good overall condition with a number of light storage and handling marks. The tiny Ordnance inspection mark on the left side of the stock wrist is lightly visible under close inspection. This is a fine example of a late production U.S. 3rd VVI Henry rifle.