This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in 1864. This rifle has the second style brass receiver without the rear sight dovetail and first style buttplate with rounded heel and hinged buttrap. The distinctive octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine has a square-back, nickel silver front sight and folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 900 yard center notch, elevator bar stop screw at the top of the leaf and elevator bar with rounded ends. The magazine has the second style, large diameter, brass follower, and the receiver has the second style, beveled follower cut. The left side of the stock has a factory sling swivel, and the left side of the barrel has a screw-fastened loop for a sling hook. The sling swivel and loop were standard features on Henry rifles in this serial number range. The buttplate has a hinged trap door and hand fitted buttplate screws. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the second pattern, two-line New Haven Arms Company legend. This second style legend is slightly larger than the first style legend used thru about serial number 3500 and uses all serif letters. The serial number is stamped on: (1) the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) the left side of the lower receiver tang, (3) the upper stock tang inlet, (4) inside of the buttplate and (5) the shanks of both hand-fitted buttplate screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered on Henry rifles in this serial number range. The receiver and buttplate have the natural brass finish. The barrel/magazine, rear sight and bolt are blued, and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The straight grain, American walnut stock has a varnished piano finish. The Henry rifle was the most advanced rifle available during the Civil War. The U.S. Ordnance Department purchased on 1,731 Henry rifles during the Civil War, and only one regiment, the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry was entirely armed with Henry rifles. However, large numbers of Henry rifles were purchased by individual federal soldiers who understood the value of a 15-shot repeating rifle. Experts believe that most of the Henry rifles manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company between 1862 and 1865 saw some Civil War service.

Fine. This rifle is all original and retains 30% of the blue and color casehardened finish on the barrel/magazine, hammer, trigger and lever. The blue finish on the barrel/magazine has faded to an attractive dove-gray patina. Significant amounts of the original blue finish are visible in protected areas. The factory legend and serial number are crisp, the edges of the barrel are sharp and the metal surfaces are smooth and free from scratches or pitting. The brass receiver and buttplate remain in very fine condition with a fine looking, un-polished, patina. The side plate joints are fine with only a few insignificant dents along the upper edges. The frame, side-plates and buttplate show minimal handling wear. The hammer, trigger and lever retain considerable amounts of the original muted case colors in protected areas; contact points on the bottom and sides of the lever have a gray-brown patina. The screw heads are all in fine condition with minimal wear. The stock is in very good overall condition and retains 80% of the original piano finish with a few scattered and very minor handling marks. This is a good-looking, original, example of a desirable Civil War production Henry lever action rifle.