Manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., in April 1865 and issued to 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3rd VVI). This rifle is 2 of 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1865. It is identified by serial number as a 3rd VVI rifle on page 76 of "THE HISTORIC HENRY RIFLE" by Wiley Sword. The 3rd VVI rifles were part of a group of Henry, Sharps and Spencer rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department to arm the four Veteran Volunteer Infantry (VVI) regiments raised in early 1865. The VVI regiments were composed of veteran soldiers armed with the most advanced firearms who would act as a corps of elite infantry. As an incentive for enlistment, the VVI soldiers were permitted to retain their rifles when they mustered out of service. The VVI regiments were organized too late to see any significant action; the 3rd VVI was mustered out of Federal service at Camp Butler, Illinois in July 1866. Unlike the 900 Henry rifles purchased in December 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment which were stamped with "C.G.C." Ordnance inspection marks on the receiver and stock, the Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1865 did not have government inspection marks. This rifle has the distinctive Henry brass receiver and buttplate and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel is blue, the hammer, trigger and lever are casehardened and the stock is straight grain American walnut. The rifle has the Second Style receiver without rear sight dovetail, late buttplate with sharply pointed heel, large diameter brass magazine follower and beveled follower cut in the receiver. The folding leaf rear sight is the final pattern with an elevator bar stop screw in the top of the leaf. The left side of the stock and barrel are fitted with a sling swivel and screw fastened loop for a sling hook. Although sling swivels and loops were special order items on early Henry rifles, they were standard features on late production rifles. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the larger Second Style legend "HENRY'S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN CT." that uses all serif (Roman) letters. The serial number matching "9300" is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver and on the left side of the lower receiver tang, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate at the toe. The late style caphead buttplate and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered. Small (1-inch by 3/4 inch) rectangular metal plates are attached to both sides of the stock wrist by brass tacks and a diamond shaped plate is tacked to the right side of the stock comb. Each plate is decorated with well executed patterns of wavy lines. The plates appear to be reinforcements or repairs. An oval nickel silver decorative inlay is fitted to the right side of the stock opposite the sling swivel.

Good. The rifle is original with moderate handling wear. The blue finish on the barrel/magazine has aged to a smooth even, deep brown patina. The edges of the barrel are sharp and the New Haven Arms Co., legend is crisp. The front sight blade is missing. The rear sight is original to the rifle but the spring that keeps the blade in place is broken. The magazine sleeve at the end of the barrel has several shallow dents and typically shows more wear than the barrel. The brass receiver and buttplate have a good looking untouched patina that takes decades to acquire. The side plate joints are nearly perfect. The side plates have obviously never been removed from the rifle. The buttplate has a few minor dents and scratches, but has the same attractive patina as the receiver. The hammer retains traces of the original case colors. The casehardened finish on the trigger and lever has faded to a brown patina. The stock is in fine condition with the characteristic "bump" under the swivel with some scattered minor handling marks. The metal plates appear to have been added as period repairs. This is an attractive example of a late production, U.S. contract Henry rifle that is documented as being issued to the 3rd VVI.