Page 234 - 4091-BOOK1

232
LOT 230
Historic and Exceptional Engraved Civil War Martially Inspected New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle Identified to a Member of the U.S. 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry - Serial no. 8636, 44 Henry cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. This fantastic Civil War Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in c. March 1865 and falls within the same range as the rifles purchased by the U.S. Government for the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry. It has the later production features and has a squareback German silver blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight with 900 yard top notch, no alternate rear sight dovetail on the frame, “HENRY’S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN CT.” stamped ahead of the rear sight, “8636.” stamped behind the rear sight, the large diameter brass follower with beveled follower cut in the receiver, “&” on the lower tang, buttplate with sharply pointed heel, takedown steel cleaning rod in the buttstock compartment, and the standard sling swivel and screw mounted sling loop on the left side of
the stock and barrel respectively. A “JT” U.S. inspector stamp is visible on the left top side of the wrist. The frame and buttplate feature primarily floral and scroll engraving patterns along with a
banner design on the right side plate and Columbia’s shield and pair of Union flags on the left side plate. The engraving style on this Henry and others associated with the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry has been attributed to Lewis Reibrecht of Company B. He was born in Germany in 1839 and is believed to have arrived in the U.S. shortly before the Civil War. He served as a musician
in Company B of the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted in the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry on March 29, 1865. At that time, his “Volunteer Enlistment form” listed his occupation as an “engraver.” He and the rest of Company B were stationed at Camp Butler in Illinois and then Camp Randall in Wisconsin. They remained at the latter until March 1866. He later worked as a jeweler and engraver in Newark, New Jersey, until his death in 1904. The patterns, particularly on the sideplates, are very similar to Henry #7594 sold by Rock Island Auction Co. in August 2022 for $55,813. That rifle was documented as issued to George Bemfor of Company B. Reibrecht’s own engraved Henry, #7419, was sold at Rock Island Auction in April 2013 for $74,750. “The Historic Henry Rifle” by Wiley Sword also identifies other rifles issued to the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry, including close serial numbers #8634, 8635, and 8639.