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1 of 800 Henry rifles contracted by the Ordnance Department and issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry.
LOT 1231
Highly Desirable Martially Inspected First U.S. Contract Civil War New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 3431, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., in 1863. This rifle is one of the 800 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department on December 30, 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment. The 1st D.C. Cavalry was the only Federal unit entirely armed with Henry rifles during the Civil War. Commanded by politically connected Col. Lafayette Baker, the 1st D.C. Cavalry initially served on provost duty in the District of Columbia under the direct orders of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and was assigned to combat Confederate partisan rangers operating in Northern Virginia. In May 1864, the regiment was reassigned to the Department of Virginia and saw action in operations around Richmond and Petersburg. The 1st D.C Cavalry was present when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. During these battles
a significant number of Henry rifles were captured or lost in action. Some captured 1st D.C. Cavalry Henry rifles were apparently used by the body guard of Confederate President Jefferson Davis when he fled Richmond during the last days of the Civil War. The 800 Henry rifles purchased for the 1st D.C. Cavalry under the December 30,
1863 contract are the only Henry rifles fully marked with Ordnance final inspection and sub-inspection marks. Although the Ordnance Department purchased an additional 627 Henry rifles in April and May 1865 to arm the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry regiment, the 1865 contract rifles did not have Ordnance inspection marks and saw no action in the Civil War. This rifle has all of the features found on the 1863 production rifles purchased for the 1st D.C. Cavalry. The barrel and integral 15-shot magazine have a the second style front sight with nickel- silver square back blade and third pattern folding leaf rear sight with “900” yard marking below the sight notch on the top of the leaf. The magazine has the second pattern, large, brass follower and the follower slot on the bottom of the receiver has milled flats to accept the larger follower. The distinctive brass receiver is the second pattern introduced about serial number 3100 that lacks the alternate rear sight dove-tail. The first style buttplate
has a rounded heel and hinged brass butt-trap door. The stock
is correctly not fitted with a sling swivel and the left side of the
barrel lacks the screw-fastened loop for a sling hook (most 1st
D.C. Henry rifles were not fitted with sling swivels and loops
which were special order items; the rifles were carried in a
leather scabbard manufactured by the Washington Arsenal
specifically for the 1st D.C. Cavalry). The top barrel flat is roll-
stamped with the correct, first style legend: “HENRY’S PATENT.
OCT. 16. 1860./MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO.
NEWHAVEN. CT.”. The two line legend has serifed (Roman) letters
for all the markings except the second “NEWHAVEN” which is
stamped in non-serifed (Gothic) letters and is approximately
2-17/32 inches long. The second style marking introduced in the late 3000 serial number range is larger and has all serifed letters. The right barrel flat is stamped with the “C.G.C” initials of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Charles G. Chapman. An Ordnance final inspection mark consisting of the script initials “CGC” with an oval border is visible on the right side of the stock wrist. A single “C” sub-inspection mark is stamped between the receiver and the “C.G.C..” mark on the right side of the barrel and two “C” sub-inspection marks are stamped on the right side of the receiver adjacent to the barrel markings. “C” sub-inspection marks are also stamped on the right side of the buttplate heel and on the right side of the stock neat to the buttplate. The rifle serial number is stamped: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the lower left side of the receiver tang, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock, (4) on the inside of the buttplate heel and (5) on the shanks of both the hand-fitted buttplate screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The tang screws are typically not serial numbered on Henry rifles above serial number 3100.