This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company during the second month of production, July 1862. The rifle has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine and brass receiver and buttplate. The barrel/magazine is blued, the hammer and lever are color casehardened and the straight grain American walnut stock is oil finished. The rifle has the first pattern receiver with alternate rear sight dovetail and early buttplate with rounded heel and has the very desirable feature of being without a lever catch. The barrel has the first style folding leaf rear sight with round top and "1000" marking below the center notch and a replacement brass front sight. The magazine has the small diameter follower and the lower receiver has the early, straight follower cut. The early style stock has a nearly vertical comb angle. The buttplate and tang have hand-fitted, screws with serial numbered shanks. The stock and barrel lack the sling swivel and loop for a sling hook which were special order items on early production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the smaller, first style, legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS. CO. NEWHAVEN. CT" in two lines. This legend uses serif letters for all the marking except the second "NEWHAVEN" which is stamped in block letters. The serial number, "312" is stamped: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the inside of the buttplate near the top of the heel and (3) on the shanks of both buttplate screws. The butt trap contains a four-piece jointed, steel cleaning rod supplied with late production Henry rifles. The Henry rifle was the most advanced rifle available during the Civil War. Although the federal government armed only one regiment (1st District of Columbia Cavalry) with Henry rifles, it is generally believed that most Henry rifles manufactured during the Civil War were privately purchased by individual soldiers who wanted the advantage of a 15-shot, lever action repeating rifle. Most of the early sales of Henry rifles were made by New Haven Arms Co., agents in Louisville, Kentucky and surrounding states. Henry rifles proved to be especially popular with Midwestern soldiers. By 1864 several Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky regiments were armed with significant numbers of privately purchased Henry rifles.

Very good. The barrel and has an attractive dark brown patina with smooth metal surfaces. The edges of the barrel show handling wear. The front sight blade is a period replacement. The top of the upper receiver tang has been milled flat ahead of the front tang screw to mount a folding peep sight. This is a period modification and the peep sight is included with the rifle. The brass receiver and buttplate have a good-looking patina and remain in very good condition with moderate handling wear. The side plates have a different patina from the receiver. There is a distinct joint between the side plates and the receiver. The hammer, trigger and lever have an even brown patina. The oiled walnut stock remains in very fine overall condition and appears to be original to the rifle. This is a good looking example of a very early Henry rifle from the second month of New Haven Arms Company production.