This is a historic Henry lever action rifle that was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company for the U.S. Ordnance Department in 1865 with Springfield Research Service (SRS) letter. In April-May 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 637 Henry lever action rifles from the New Haven Arms Co. These late production U.S. Contract rifles are generally referred to as "Type II" rifles to distinguish them from the 800 "Type I" U.S. Contract Henry rifles purchased in 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment (Type I rifles have Ordnance inspection marks, Type II rifles do not have Ordnance inspection marks). The Type II rifles were issued to the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry (VVI) regiment. The 3rd VVI was one of nine Veteran Volunteer regiments recruited in early 1865 to serve as an elite corps of experienced infantry. The VVI regiments were issued Sharps, Spencer or Henry rifles. As an enlistment incentive, VVI soldiers were allowed to retain their rifles on discharge. The 3rd VVI was organized in February 1865 at Camp Stoneman, District of Columbia, and was stationed in the Shenandoah Valley and Washington defenses before it was mustered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois, in July 1866. The SRS letter that accompanies the rifle states that Henry Rifle serial no. 7278 was issued to Corpl. Louis Heiligmann, Co. B, 3rd VVI. Corporal Heiligmann's service records indicate that he was born in Wurttemberg, German, and previously served in the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry before he enlisted in the 3rd VVI on March 29, 1865, at age 28. His occupation is listed as a cabinet maker. Heiligmann was discharged from the 3rd VVI at Madison, Wisconsin on March 29, 1866. The SRS letter states that it can be assumed that Corpl. Heiligmann kept this Henry rifle when he was discharged. This rifle has a blue barrel with integral magazine and the distinctive Henry brass receiver and crescent buttplate. The hammer and lever have a casehardened finish. The barrel has the late nickel silver squareback front sight blade and dovetail mounted folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 900 yard center notch and retaining screw at the top of the leaf. The receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on early production Henry rifles. The brass buttplate is the second pattern with sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor and the trap contains the late pattern four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod issued with Henry rifles in this serial number range. The straight grain black walnut stock has a varnished finish. The left side of the stock has a factory sling swivel and the left side of the barrel has a factory screw-fastened loop for a sling hook. Sling swivels were standard features on Type II U.S. Henry rifles. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the late style two-line legend "HENRY'S PATENT.OCT.16.1860./MANUFACT'D. BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO.NEWHAVEN.CT." using all serif letters. The serial number is stamped on the top of the barrel behind the rear sight, on the left side of the lower receiver tang, inside of the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate below the trapdoor. The buttplate and receiver have the late style cap screws which are correctly not stamped with the rifle serial number. The brass receiver and the heel of the brass buttplate are engraved with restrained floral designs and zig-zag scrollwork. The left side plate is decorated with a Federal shield with arrows and spears flanked by crossed flags. The right front of the receiver is engraved with an oak leaf and acorn motif and the right side plate is engraved with a blank inscription panel. The engraving on the left side plate and receiver is nearly identical to the engraving on U.S. Contract Henry rifle serial number "3351" illustrated on page 141 of "THE HENRY RIFLE" by Les Quick. The engraving was almost certainly executed after Corpl. Heiligmann was mustered out of service. There are at least three identified Henry rifles from Co. B, 3rd VVI that have similar engraving. One of these rifles belonged to a German veteran of the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteers who was also mustered out of service in Madison, Wisconsin. The engraving on both rifles may have been executed by the same person following the Civil War. Identified and engraved U.S. Contract Henry rifles are very rare.

Fine. The barrel and magazine retain 40% of the high polish period applied blue finish. The lever and hammer have 40% of the original case colors remaining. It is extremely rare to encounter a U.S. Contract Henry rifle with any original finish. The finely engraved brass receiver and buttplate have an attractive mellow unpolished patina and are very fine. The side plate joints are tight with minimal edge wear and the period engraving is sharp. The barrel legend and serial number are crisp. The re-oiled stock is very good with a few, minor handling marks. This is an exceptional example of a period engraved Type II U.S. Henry rifle with SRS documentation from the National Archives.