This Henry lever-action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. c. 1865. The rifle has the distinctive brass "gunmetal" frame, crescent buttplate and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel/magazine were originally blue, the hammer and lever are casehardened and the straight grain black walnut stock has a varnished "piano" finish. The barrel has the late folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch and screw-stop for the elevation bar at the top of the leaf. The magazine has the large late pattern brass follower. The second style frame has the late style wide follower cut-out and lacks the alternate rear sight dovetail eliminated at about serial number 3,000. The buttplate has the late pattern sharp profile heel with hinged trap. The buttplate screws are the correct cap head machine screws rather than the hand-fitted serial numbered buttplate screws used on earlier production rifles. The left side of the stock and barrel are fitted with a sling swivel and loop for a sling hook which were standard features on later production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is die-stamped with the second style legend "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16.1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN CT." in two lines. The second style legend is slightly larger than the marking used on Henry rifles thru about serial number 4,000 and utilizes all serifed (Roman) letters rather than the combination of serifed and block (Gothic) letters in the first style legend. The "H" inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower tang between the lever latch and tang screw. The serial number "10332" is located on the top of the barrel between the rear sight dovetail and the frame, on the lower left side of the tang beneath the stock, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The buttplate screws and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered like the screws on early production Henry rifles. The Henry rifle was the most advanced firearm available in the American Civil War. The 15-round magazine and robust self-cocking action made Henry rifles popular with Federal soldiers who were willing to spend their pay or re-enlistment bounty for the best rifle available. Although fewer than 1,500 Henry rifles were purchased by the Ordnance Department for issue to Federal troops, experts believe that most of the Henry rifles manufactured before April 1865 were privately purchased by individual soldiers. Henry rifles were equally popular on the frontier following the war. A substantial number of Henry rifles were used by Native American warriors at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.

Good. The rifle presents a very attractive appearance. The barrel and magazine have an even dark brown patina. The edges of the barrel are sharp and the factory legend and serial number are deep and clear. The rear sight is original to the rifle. Both sides of the barrel and magazine have extensive scattered moderate to deep pitting which is mostly contained to the forward third of the barrel. The original nickel-silver front sight has been replaced with a period half-moon brass sight. The brass frame and crescent buttplate have an even and very good looking patina. The frame has a few minor scratches and handling marks and the upper edge of the right side plate has some minor disassembly marks. The frame and buttplate are in very good condition. The hammer, lever and trigger have a mottled brown patina with scattered shallow pitting. The loading lever is loose but the action functions properly. The stock has an old professional refinish and is very good with a few insignificant handling marks. This is a good looking example of an important and historic Henry lever action rifle.