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LOT 35
Fine Civil War Production First Model New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle with Herb Glass, Jr Letter - Serial no. 1159, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This first model Henry lever action rifle was manufactured in 1862. The rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and crescent buttplate with octagon barrel and integral 15-shot magazine. The rifle has the first style receiver with rear sight dovetail and early style buttplate with rounded heel. The rear sight dovetail on the receiver was discontinued about serial number 3,000, and a buttplate with pointed heel was introduced at about serial number 4,000. The barrel has the early pattern nickel silver front sight blade with rounded back and third pattern folding leaf rear sight. The third pattern rear sight is distinguished by “900” stamped below the center notch in the top of the leaf elevator bar with rounded ends and lack of the elevator stop screw in the top of the leaf. The stock and barrel are fitted with a sling swivel and loop for a sling hook. Sling swivels and loops were extra cost, special order items until mid-1863. The buttplate has a hinged brass trapdoor and the butt trap contains a four-piece hickory cleaning rod. The stock is straight grain American walnut with a varnished piano finish. The rifle has a blue barrel and integral magazine. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The top barrel flat is roll stamped with the two-line legend “HENRY’S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/ MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO. NEWHAVEN.CT.” The left side of the lower tang is stamped with the numbers “1159” and “1862. “1862” repeated on the stock inlet, the inside of the buttplate below the trap, both upper tang screws, the lower tang screw, and both buttplate screws. The serial number “1159” is repeated on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver.
Experts believe that most of the 7,500 Henry rifles manufactured between April 1862 and January 1865 were purchased for use in the Civil War and saw some military service. Aside from 900 rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1863-1864 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment, nearly all Henry rifles used in the Civil War were privately purchased by soldiers who wanted to have the most advanced firearm available and take advantage of the sustained firepower of a 15-shot magazine rifle.