3357

U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co., Henry Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 27,500.00 USD
U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co., Henry Rifle
This Henry rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in January 1864. This rifle was part of the Ordnance Department contract for 800 Henry rifles issued to the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry. The 800 rifles purchased under this contract were the only Henry rifles with Ordnance inspection and sub-inspection marks on the barrel and stock and the only U.S. contract Henry rifles to be used in combat during the Civil War. The 1st D.C. Cavalry was raised as a special unit to combat Confederate partisan raiders in Northern Virginia and operated under the personal direction of Secretary of War Edward M. Stanton. It was the only Federal unit in the Civil War that was entirely equipped with Henry rifles. In the summer of 1864 the 1st D.C. Cavalry was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and saw heavy combat around Petersburg, Virginia. The regiment was eventually combined with the 1st Maine Cavalry but retained the Henry rifles. Many of the 1st D.C./1st Maine Cavalry Henry rifles were captured and subsequently issued to several Virginia cavalry regiments. The rifle has an octagon barrel with integral, 15-round, magazine, distinctive brass frame and buttplate and walnut stock. The barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade. The barrel has two rear-sight dovetails. The rear dovetail is original to the rifle and is fitted with a replacement, folding, two-leaf, rear sight. A second dovetail has been added to the barrel about 3 1/2-inches from the frame. The second dovetail is fitted with an original Henry folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch. The left side of the stock and left side of the barrel are fitted with a factory sling swivel and screw-mounted sling loop; sling swivels and loops were fitted to some, but not all, U.S. contract Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. COT.16.1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT.". Part of the legend has been obliterated by the second rear sight dovetail. The serial number, which appears to be "3347", is stamped on the top of the barrel between the original rear sight dovetail and the frame. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the "C.G.C." initials of Ordnance sub-inspector Charles G. Chapman. An "H" New Haven Arms inspection mark is stamped horizontally on barrel below the "C.G.C." initials. A second "H" is stamped horizontally on the frame immediately behind the barrel markings. The inside of the buttplate is stamped "9070" on the casting web and "3347" on the edge of the buttplate.
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 3347
Condition: Fair. The barrel has been re-browned and the stock has been refinished. The barrel has a mellow, plum brown, patina with no pitting and only minor handling marks. The barrel legend is re-engraved on a portion where a dovetail once was filled. The serial number is only partially legible due to buffing. The receiver has a very attractive, un-polished, patina. The side plate edges show moderate wear. The late pattern, sharp heel, buttplate has been re-shaped to the early, round heel configuration. The buttplate screws are the late pattern, cap head style with no serial numbers. The tang screws are replacements. The second rear sight dovetail and the replacement rear sight in the first dovetail are period modifications. There is no trace of the script "C.G.C." Ordnance inspection cartouche on the right side of the stock wrist. The stock could not be removed to verify the serial number on the lower left side of the tang and in the stock tang inlet. This is a representative example of one the most important and advanced rifles used in the Civil War. A U.S. Contract Henry rifle is the center-piece of any Civil War weapons collection.