Documented US Army contract New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle from the American Civil War,from

Documented US Army contract New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle from the American Civil War,from Rock Island AuctionsHenry Rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. as part of the Ordnance Department order for 500 Henry rifles on April 7, 1865. The serial number of this rifle is listed in the serial numbers of Henry rifles reported by Companies B, C, I, H, and K of the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry (VVI) in 1865 (“The Historic Henry Rifle” by Wiley Sword, page 75). In April and May 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 627 Henry rifles to arm the 3rd VVI. The 3rd VVI was one of four infantry regiments recruited from discharged veterans in 1864-65 to serve as an elite infantry corps under Major General Winfield Scott Hancock. These regiments were armed with Henry, Spencer and Sharps rifles. In addition to a substantial enlistment bonus, volunteers for the VVI regiments were allowed to retain their issue rifles when mustered out of service. The Civil War ended before the VVI regiments saw any significant action. The 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in April-May 1865 and the 1100 Henry rifles procured to arm the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment (1st DC Cavalry) in 1863 and 1864 were the only Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department during the Civil War. Only the 800 rifles ordered for the 1st D.C. Cavalry on December 30, 1863, were marked with Ordnance final inspection marks. This rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine which identify Henry rifles. The rifle has the late production features which include: (1) nickel-silver, square back front sight blade, (2) folding leaf rear sight with elevation bar stop screw and “900” mark below the center notch, (3) large diameter brass magazine follower, (4) beveled magazine follower slot, (5) sling swivel on the left side of the stock and screw-fastened loop for sling hook on the left side of the barrel, (6) brass buttplate with sharp pointed heel and (7) large, second style, New Haven Arms Co., legend that uses all serif letters. In addition to the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate, this rifle originally had a blued barrel/magazine with casehardened, hammer, trigger and lever. The stock is straight grain American walnut with a varnish finish. The hammer has coarse, border-less knurling. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: “HENRY’S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT” in two lines with serif letters ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is located: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2)  on the left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock and (4) on the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late style cap screws on the buttplate and tang are, correctly, not marked with the rifle serial number. The “H” inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. A tiny “J.T.” Ordnance sub-inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the stock wrist. This mark is the only Ordnance inspection mark found on the Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1865 -- source link

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