This early production three-digit serial number Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in August 1862, the fifth month of production. This rifle would almost certainly have seen service during the Civil War and later on the frontier! The rifle has the early Henry features such as the first style brass receiver with rear sight dovetail (occupied by a folding ladder rear sight graduated to 1,000 yards), straight follower cut in the receiver bottom, brass buttplate with rounded heel, front sight with rounded back (half moon style), and first style New Haven Arms Company barrel legend. Matching serial numbers appear on the barrel, left side of the lower tang, tang screws, and buttplate. One of the buttplate screws is unnumbered, and the other replacement screw is numbered to a different gun. The barrel and integral 15-shot magazine originally had a blue finish. The hammer, lever, and trigger were color casehardened. The hammer has a hand knurled spur. The American walnut straight grip stock is nicely figured. Experts believe that most of the 7,500 Henry rifles manufactured between April 1862 and January 1865 were purchased for use in the Civil War and saw some military service. Aside from 900 rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1863-1864 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment, nearly all Henry rifles used in the Civil War were privately purchased by soldiers who wanted to have the most advanced firearm available and take advantage of the sustained firepower of a 15-shot magazine rifle. Henry rifles also continued to be used in the West after the Civil War. As a result, the great majority of the Henry rifles under serial number 7,500 show moderate to heavy wear. Early production Henry rifles are exceptionally rare. Provenance: The Collection of David L. DeLullo