Henry Rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in May 1865. At least 127 of the 475 Henry rifles manufactured during May 1865 were used to fill an Ordnance Department contract for Henry rifles for the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3rd VVI). Henry rifles serial number 9316, 9310 and 9323 are all identified as rifles issued to the 3rd VVI. In April and May 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 627 Henry rifles to arm the 3rd VVI. The 3rd VVI was one of four infantry regiments recruited from discharged veterans in 1864-65 designated to serve as an elite infantry unit commanded by General Winfield Scott Hancock. These regiments were armed with Henry, Spencer and Sharps rifles. In addition to a substantial enlistment bonus, volunteers for the VVI regiments were allowed to retain their issue rifles when they mustered out of service. The Civil War ended before the VVI regiments saw any significant action. The 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in April-May 1865 and the 1100 Henry rifles procured to arm the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment (1st DC Cavalry) in 1863 and 1864 were the only Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department during the Civil War. Only the 800 rifles ordered for the 1st D.C. Cavalry on December 30, 1863, were marked with Ordnance final inspection marks. This rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine which identify Henry rifles. The rifle has the late production features which include: (1) nickel-silver, square back front sight blade, (2) folding leaf rear sight with elevation bar stop screw and "900" mark below the center notch, (3) large diameter brass magazine follower, (4) beveled magazine follower slot, (5) sling swivel on the left side of the stock and screw-fastened loop for sling hook on the left side of the barrel, (6) brass buttplate with sharp pointed heel and (7) large, second style, New Haven Arms Co. legend that uses all serif letters. In addition to the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate, this rifle has a blued barrel/magazine and casehardened hammer, trigger and lever. The stock is oil finished, straight grain, American walnut. The hammer has coarse, borderless knurling. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor. The butt trap contains the four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod with brass tip furnished with late production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "HENRY'S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT" in two lines with serif letters ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is located: (1) on the top barrel flat 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. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late style cap screws on the buttplate and tang are, correctly, not marked with the rifle serial number.

Fine. This rifle is all original and remains in untouched "attic" condition. The barrel/magazine retains strong traces of the original blue finish in protected areas; the balance has aged to a very attractive plum brown patina. The metal surfaces are smooth, and the barrel edges are sharp. Markings are crisp. Both the front sight blade and folding leaf rear sight are original to the rifle. The spring in the rear sight base that retains the leaf is still functional. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate have a dark untouched, patina and remain in fine condition with minimal handling wear. The side-plate joints are in perfect condition and have never been removed from the receiver. The hammer has a mottled silver-gray patina. The loading lever has a deep brown patina. The stock is in very fine condition with untouched feathered grain and inspector initials mostly visible. The stock has scattered minor storage marks but, like the rest of the rifle, very little handling wear. This is a fine example of a May 1865 production Henry rifle in the same serial number range as documented Ordnance Department contract rifles issued to the 3rd VVI regiment that shows only limited handling wear. It would be hard to find a better example of an original Civil War Henry rifle.