This U.S. contract Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. January 1865. This rifle has the mid-late production Henry features which include: second style receiver without rear sight dovetail, buttplate with sharply pointed heel, a nickel-silver front sight blade with flat rear, a large diameter brass follower with beveled follower cut in the receiver, late style folding leaf rear sight with elevation bar with rounded ends and elevation bar stop screw below the 900 yard center notch, the second style barrel legend with longer (3-9/32-inch) markings using all serif letters, standard sling swivels and screw mounted sling loop on the left side of the stock and barrel. The rifle has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine and brass receiver and buttplate. The barrel and integral magazine are blued, the receiver and buttplate are natural brass/gunmetal, and the hammer, trigger, and lever are color casehardened. The stock is oil finished, straight grain American walnut. The serial number is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver and on the inside of the buttplate below the trap door. Out of caution, the stock has not been removed, but the matching serial number is almost certainly repeated on the left side of the lower receiver tang and in the stock upper tang inlet. The small "E" inspection mark is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch and a very faint, barely noticeable "AWM" inspection mark is on the left side of the stock at the wrist (the appropriate inspection mark for a U.S. contract rifle in the sn. 7000-9000 range which includes rifles ordered for the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry. This rifle has "J. D. Co. D. 3. R." inscribed on the top of the frame and "J. DONOVAN/CO. D. 3. REGT/1ST A.C.V.V." inscribed on the left side. The 3rd Regiment of the 1st Army Corps were veterans led by General Winfield Scott Hancock. General Orders No. 287 dated November 28, 1864, called for a new 1st Army Corps made up of 20,000 veterans who had served at least two years and had been honorably discharged. The orders also noted that "Each recruit who preserves his arms to the end of his term may retain them as his own upon being honorably discharged." Recruitment broadsides noted that "This Corps will be provided with the best arms in the possession of the Government and the men will be allowed to retain their arms at the expiration of service" and newspapers noted the unit was being armed with Henry rifles. The Chicago Tribune on April 6, 1865, noted that the Illinois regiment being organized for Hancock's corps was to be armed with Henry repeating rifles and celebrated the rifle noting that "A regiment of veterans, armed with Henry repeaters, can whip a brigade of soldiers equipped with the minie rifle. This magnificent weapon can be seen in the hands of a member of the corps in the counting room of the Tribune, between three and four p.m., for a few days." Clearly possibly getting your hands on a Henry of your own was part of the appeal of joining the Veteran Corps. 627 U.S. martial contract Henry rifles were purchased to arm the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Wiley Sword in "The Historic Henry Rifle" indicates these were supplemented by rifles originally ordered for the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry in 1863-64 and totaled around 800 rifles for the 3rd V.V.I. The rifles shipped on April 19, 1865, and May 23, 1865, for the unit fall within the 7000-9400+ serial number range and were the last purchased by the Ordnance Department aside from a single carbine ordered on November 7, 1865. As they shipped in late April and May of 1865, these Henry rifles arrived too late to be used in the Civil War. Many of the Veteran Volunteers received Sharps, Spencers, and other rifles although you can imagine many would have preferred Donovan's Henry.

Fine with 30% plus original blue finish in the protected areas and otherwise smooth brown patina, attractive aged patina on the brass, gray and brown patina on the loading lever and hammer along with some mild pitting, and generally rather light overall wear. The stock is also fine and has smooth oiled finish, the "Henry bump" under the swivel, and some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.