This is a fine example of an original Henry lever-action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. late in the Civil War. The rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and 24 inch octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel/magazine is blued, the hammer and loading lever are color casehardened and the straight grain, black walnut stock has an oil finish. The barrel has a nickel-silver square back front sight and a folding adjustable rear sight with 900 yard center notch and a stop screw for the elevation bar. The buttplate is the second style with sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor and the butt trap contains a four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. 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. The top barrel flat 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 with all serifed letters. The serial number "7326" is stamped on the top barrel flat between the receiver and rear sight, and on the inside of the buttplate (the stock was not removed to examine the serial number on the stock and receiver tang). The buttplate screws are the late style cap screws which are correctly not stamped with the rifle serial number. B. Tyler Henry's "H" inspection mark is stamped on the lower receiver tang. The Henry rifle was the most advanced firearm of the American Civil War and most of the New Haven Arms Co., rifle production was purchased by individual Federal soldiers who wanted the advantage of a 15-shot repeating rifle. After the Civil War the Henry rifle was extremely popular with frontiersmen and Native Americans. In addition to the historical associations with the Civil War and the opening of the American West, the successful lever action design of the Henry rifle led to the development of the Winchester Model 1866, 1873 and 1876 rifles and the dominance of Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 19th Century firearms.

Fine. The rifle is completely original and outstanding. The barrel/magazine has a very attractive plum-brown patina and retains 40% of the original blue finish which is mostly in the protected areas. The surfaces of the barrel and magazine are smooth and the barrel edges are sharp. The barrel legend and serial number are crisp. The rear sight is very fine with sharp markings and 30% of nitre-blue finish remaining. The brass receiver is excellent with a mellow untouched patina acquired only with age. The receiver sideplate joints are perfect. The buttplate has the same untouched patina as the receiver but has a few minor age spots and handling marks. The case colors on the hammer and lever are a mottled dove-gray. The stock is also fine; most of the original finish is intact and wear is limited to some scattered minor handling marks. This is an outstanding example a Civil War era Henry lever-action rifle.