This Henry rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in 1864. The rifle has the late production features which include: (1) nickel-silver square back front sight blade, (2) folding ladder rear sight with 900 yard center notch and elevation bar stop screw, (3) large diameter magazine follower, (4) beveled receiver follower slot, (5) second style receiver without the rear sight dove-tail and (5) second style crescent buttplate with pointed heel. In addition, the rifle is fitted with the sling swivel on the left side of the stock and screw-mounted loop on the left side of the barrel which were standard features on later production Henry rifles. The buttplate has a hinged trap door. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the second style legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS. CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." utilizing all serif letters. The serial number is stamped: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the left side of the lower receiver tang, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock, and (4) on the inside of the buttplate toe. The buttplate and tag screws are not numbered which is correct for Henry rifles in this serial number range. All of the visible serial numbers match. The rifle originally had a blued barrel/magazine with color casehardened hammer, trigger and lever and brass receiver and crescent buttplate. The straight grain American walnut stock is oil finished with the Henry "bump" visible under the swivel on the left side of buttstock. Henry rifles were privately purchased in large numbers by federal soldiers in Midwestern regiments who wanted the firepower offered by the 15-shot lever action repeating rifle. Many soldiers who re-enlisted following their original three-year term of service in 1864 used their re-enlistment bonus to pay for the Henry rifles.

Very good plus. This rifle is all original and retains traces of the blue finish on protected areas of the barrel/magazine and with small amounts of casehardened finish on the hammer and lever. Most of the blue finish on the barrel/magazine has aged to an even, plum brown patina. The barrel edges show some handling wear. Metal surfaces are generally smooth with some scattered age spotting and some localized pitting on the left side of the barrel at the junction with the receiver. The address and serial number are sharp. The front sight blade and folding ladder rear sight are both original to the rifle. The case colors on the hammer, trigger and lever have mostly aged to a smooth brown finish. The distinctive brass receiver and crescent buttplate are in very good overall condition with an attractive untouched patina. The receiver side plate joints are crisp. The left side of the receiver has scattered spots of age discoloration and both sides of the receiver have shallow scratches and handling marks. The extractor is chipped. The buttplate has light handling marks and the same age spotting as the left side of the receiver. The stock remains in very good condition with moderate handling wear. This is solid representative example of a historically important Civil War era production Henry lever action rifle.