This Henry Lever Action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in April 1865 and is documented as being issued to Gettysburg and 3rd Regiment, VVI veteran Private Lewis Blundin. In the accompanying excerpt (copy) from the Adjutant General’s Office book records of volunteer Union organizations, this Rifle Is Listed By Serial Number As Issued To Private Lewis Blundin of the 3rd Regiment, Veteran Volunteer Infantry (3rd VVI). Such a record is unquestioned, rock-solid provenance. The Ordnance Department ordered 127 Henry rifles in 8400-9400 serial number range on May 16, 1865. These rifles, along with 500 Henry rifles in the 7000-8000 serial number range ordered on March 7, 1865, were issued to the newly formed 3rd VVI. The 3rd VVI was assigned to the defenses of Washington D.C. in the spring of 1865 and mustered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois in July 1866 after serving in the Northern Frontier. Soldiers in the 3rd VVI were allowed to retain their rifles when they mustered out of Federal service. None of the 627 Henry rifles in the 7000-9000 serial number range issued to the 3rd VVI were stamped with Ordnance inspection or U.S. property marks. Additional details regarding Private Blundin’s military service are outlined in his included extensive service and pension records. Blundin originally enlisted with the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (aka Goldstream Regiment) in July 1861. The regiment participated in several high profile Civil War engagements including the Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, and Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. At the Battle of Gettysburg Blundin was wounded. Based on the included pension records, Blundin received a shell wound to the left side at ”Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.” In early February 1864 Blundin transferred to the 147th Pennsylvania Infantry but quickly transferred back to the 28th in March where he remained until the following year when he joined the 3rd VVI in March 1865. He was discharged in March 1866. This rifle has the distinctive Henry brass receiver and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel/magazine is blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The barrel has a flat back, nickel-silver front sight, folding leaf rear sight with 900-yard center notch and elevation bar stop screw at the top of the leaf, large diameter brass magazine follower and screw fastened loop for a sling hook on the left side. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the late style, large, two-line, legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16.1860./MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO.NEWHAVEN. CT." ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The second style brass receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on early Henry rifles. The bottom of the receiver has a beveled magazine follower cut. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The brass buttplate has the second style, heel with sharp point and hinged butt trap door. The straight grain, oil-finished, walnut stock has a sling swivel on the left side with the desirable raised portion of wood that collectors refer to as the "Henry Bump". The sling swivel and sling hook loop were special order features on early Henry rifles and standard features on rifles in this serial number range. In addition to the serial number on the top barrel flat, "8744" is stamped on the lower left side of the barrel tang beneath the stock, on the inside of the stock upper tang inlet and on the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late style buttplate and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered. The "W" inspection mark utilized by Oliver Winchester is located on the lower receiver tang. The right side of the rifle stock is period inlaid with a mother-of-pearl Union shield. The advanced Henry lever action rifle was a desirable weapon on the western frontier in the years following the Civil War.

Very good plus and untouched. This rifle is completely original and retains traces of the original blue finish on the barrel and 30% of the muted case colors on the hammer, trigger and lever. The barrel/magazine has a dark brown patina with scattered spots of the original blue finish on protected areas of the magazine. The edges of the barrel show handling wear and the surfaces of the barrel and magazine have light age texture. The barrel legend and serial number are fully legible. The brass receiver has a mellow, untouched highly attractive patina and is in fine overall condition. The upper and lower edges of the side plates are lightly dented. The side plates, sides, top and bottom of the receiver have light scratches and handling marks. The butt-plate is very good with the same mellow patina as the receiver. The stock is fine with scattered shallow dents and handling marks; most of the wear is on the bottom edge and right side of the stock. The sling swivel has a deep brown patina. This is a very solid example of a U.S. Henry rifle identified by serial number as carried and kept by a wounded veteran of the defining battle of the American Civil War, Gettysburg. Such certainty of identification, history and untouched condition are what educated collectors look for in the best historic firearms, and always in a good Henry Rifle.