This Henry lever action rifle serial number 25 was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. April 1862. This rare two-digit serial number Henry rifle was probably manufactured during the first month of New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle production. The rifle has the distinctive Henry brass frame and buttplate with octagon barrel and integral 15-shot magazine. Early features on this rifle include: (1) nickel-silver front sight with half-moon shaped profile, (2) first style folding leaf rear sight with 1000 yard center notch (3) early first style brass receiver with alternate rear sight dove-tail, straight follower cut, and no lever latch (4) first style lever without lever latch spur, (5) early profile stock with vertical comb edge, (6) first style brass buttplate with round heel and serial number stamped on the inside of the heel, (7) rifle serial number stamped on the shanks of the tang screws and the hand fitted buttplate screws. In addition to the enumerated early features, the rifle lacks the sling swivel and loop for sling hook both of which were special order features on early production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the first style legend: "HENRY'S. PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN. ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The first style legend was utilized until early 1864 and has the second "NEWHAVEN" marking in block letters. The serial number, "25" is located on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver and on: (1) the left side of the lower tang beneath the stock, (2) upper tang inlet of the stock, (3) inside of the buttplate heel, and (4) on the shanks of the tang and buttplate screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel/ magazine is blued, the hammer, trigger, and lever are casehardened and the receiver and buttplate have the natural brass finish. The stock is nicely figured American walnut with a piano finish. Included with the rifle is a high quality, framed portrait of a stylish young man who is identified by the consignor as the first owner of this rifle.

Fine. This rifle shows only limited handling wear and retains significant amounts of the original blue and casehardened finish in protected areas. The barrel/magazine have an attractive plum brown patina with sharp edges, clear legend and serial number, and traces of blue in protected areas. Wear is limited to a few spots of very minor surface discoloration. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate are in very fine condition with a handsome, untouched attractively aged patina. The side plate joints are perfect and the receiver and buttplate show only minimal scratches and handling wear. The hammer retains 40% of the mottled case colors while the trigger and lever have an even brown patina. The stock remains in very fine condition and retains at least 85% of the original piano finish; wear is limited to a few scattered and very minor handling marks. The magazine has the later large diameter brass follower which may be a period replacement. The bolt has a post Civil War center-fire firing pin. This is a really outstanding example of an extremely hard to find, two-digit (serial number 25), high condition early production Henry lever action rifle.