Manufactured in January of 1864, this solid representative example of a Civil War production, U.S. martially inspected, New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle. The Henry lever action rifle is among the most famous and desirable of all of the historic American lever action rifles as the predecessor to the famous Winchester lever action rifles, one of the most advanced firearms of the American Civil War, as well as a legendary icon of the American frontier. Many of these advanced rifles were purchased by the federal government for use during the Civil War, and many more were also privately purchased by veterans using their reenlistment bonuses. Many of the Henrys that saw Civil War use, as well as many of those that didn't, later made their way farther west, playing a role in the taming of America's frontier. In the wilds of the West, these rifles could be found in the hands of pioneers, Native Americans, outlaws, lawmen, and anyone else that valued the quick repeating shots the Henry had to offer. This 1864 production Henry's serial number falls between two Henrys documented as carried by the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteers, these being number 3879 and number 3881 (p. 75 "The Historic Henry Rifle" by Wiley Sword). However, given the U.S. inspector's marks present on this rifle, it was almost certainly one of those issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment. The U.S. inspector mark "HH" is on the right of the frame and barrel, and the "C.G.C." inspector's mark is on the right of the barrel. These rifles were part of a government order for 800 rifles on 30 December 1863, and it appears these 800 all came from the 3000-4000 serial number range, and are the only Henry rifles which bear the "C.G.C." government inspector's markings, per "The Story of Benjamin Tyler Henry and His Famed Repeating Rifle" by Les Quick (pg. 146). The 1st D.C. Cavalry was the only federal unit entirely armed with Henry rifles during the Civil War. Commanded by politically connected Col. Lafayette Baker, the 1st D.C. Cavalry initially served on provost duty in the District of Columbia under the direct orders of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and was assigned to combat Confederate partisan rangers operating in Northern Virginia. In May 1864, the regiment was reassigned to the Department of Virginia and saw action in operations around Richmond and Petersburg. This example has the early style frame which shows an abrupt angle and only a slight edge bevel on the upper rear, which was standard until approximately the 4900 serial number range. The lever is of the second style with a spur that engages the lever latch screw, which entered production in the early 400 serial number range and continued until the end of production. The hammer has the correct course, hand-filed checkering. The frame correctly lacks a rear sight dovetail slot, a feature that was discontinued around the 3100 serial number range. The magazine follower is the correct, larger, second style and the frame has the correct milled flats in the receiver slot. The barrel has the correct, two-line, larger style Henry's patent and New Haven address marking, which appeared in the 3000 serial number range. The rear sight dovetail is just in front of the second style, larger-digit serial number, which is at the breech. The matching serial number is marked on the barrel, left side of the lower tang, in the stock inlet, inside the buttplate, and on the shank of both buttplate screws. The buttplate screws are hand-fitted to the contour of the buttplate and thus are correctly numbered, while the tang screws are not hand-fitted and correctly lack numbers, a transition variation which is seen in approximately the 3000-5600 serial number range. It is fitted the period replacement, low-profile silver blade front sight and period replacement fixed notch rear sight. It is not fitted with sling swivels. It is correctly mounted with the last style buttstock, which entered production around the 3200 serial number range and has the gently sloping comb, flat bottom, and distinctive "Henry bump" on the left, as well as being fitted with the earlier style trapdoor buttplate with the rounded heel that was standard until around the 5100 serial number range. The trapdoor compartment contains an included wood four-piece sectionalized cleaning rod.

Very good, showing mostly a brown patina on the iron components with some scattered light pitting, a few patches of oxidation, and clear markings. The fine brass shows an attractively aged patina overall with some scattered light dings and scratches, and the sideplates showing a mostly tight fit. The rear screw on the upper tang is broken off in the threads. The stock is also very good with faint cartouche, scattered minor dings and scratches throughout, and some light chips/short cracks at the toe. Mechanically fine. These U.S. martially inspected Henrys are scarce in any condition, and this example is well above average!