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  • /Lot 41

Lot 41:Civil War Henry Lever Action Rifle

December 4th, 2015|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 41

Lot 41:Civil War Henry Lever Action Rifle

December 4th, 2015|Rock Island, IL
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Estimated Price$15,000 - $22,500
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Civil War Henry Lever Action Rifle

This Henry lever-action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in 1864. The rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate with octagon barrel and integral 15-shot magazine. The rifle has the second style brass buttplate introduced about serial number 4000. The magazine has the larger follower and the receiver has the beveled follower cuts found on later Henry rifles. The rifle has a folding leaf rear sight with center notch and elevation bar stop screw at the top of the leaf and a nickel silver front sight blade. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860./MANUFACT'D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The legend is the slightly larger, second style, with all serif letters. The serial number, "7034" is roll-stamped: (1) on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock, and (4) on the inside of the buttplate. The late style, cap-head buttplate and tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered. All of the visible serial numbers match. The "W" sub-inspection mark of Oliver Winchester is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch. The rifle is not fitted with the usual sling swivel and sling hook loop on the left side of the stock and barrel. The federal government purchased only about 18% of the Henry rifles manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., (1,731 rifles) during the Civil War. These Henry rifles were issued almost exclusively to the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment and the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiment. However, experts believe that most of the nearly 9000 Henry rifles manufactured between June 1862 and April 1865 were privately purchased by individual federal soldiers who understood that the Henry rifle was the most advanced rifle available and were willing to pay for the fire-power offered by a 15-shot repeating rifle. Henry rifles were especially popular in Mid-western regiments. Several Illinois regiments had large numbers of privately purchased Henry rifles by the end of the Civil War.

ConditionFair. The rifle has been refinished but retains the aged appearance. The barrel has a smooth, artificial blue brown patina with a few scattered dents and scratches but no significant pitting. Part of the barrel legend has been obscured by light file marks, however most of the legend remains sharp and clear. The barrel serial number and the "W" sub-inspection mark on the tang are sharp. The rear sight leaf is the right style for this serial number range but the markings on the leaf appear to have been freshened. The stock has been lightly sanded and refinished but remains in very good overall condition. The brass receiver and buttplate are in very good overall condition and show moderate handling wear with some rounding on high points and a few minor scratches. The side plate joints are tight and free of pry marks and there is no indication that the side plates have been removed from the receiver. Both the receiver and buttplate were polished at some point but have developed a good looking patina. The case colors on the hammer, trigger and lever have a mottled gray-brown patina. This is a representative example of a Civil War production Henry lever action rifle.
Details
ManufacturerNew Haven Arms Co.
ModelHenry Rifle
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge44 Henry RF
Barrel24 inch
Finishblue
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views3668
Catalog page30
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