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LOT 1018
Desirable Civil War New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial no.
8010, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. The Henry lever action rifle manufactured by Oliver Winchester’s New Haven Arms Co. was arguably the
most advanced firearm of the Civil War. Naturally, they were highly sought after by soldiers who could afford them and the majority of the approximately 11,000 rifles manufactured before the end of the Civil War are believed to have been in the hands of Union soldiers. On occasion, they Henry was also found in the hands of their Confederate adversaries. Many continued to see use in the American West after the Civil War where they served alongside the new Winchester Model 1866 as the best repeating rifles available until the centerfire Model 1873 started to be available in quantity. Even after the ‘73 was widespread, Henry rifles remained in use, including by Native American warriors at the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn. With their historical significance, it is no surprise that they remain among the most sought after antique American firearms.
This classic Henry rifle was manufactured c. February 1865 as the Union’s armies were pressing hard against the worn down Confederate armies from multiple sides. It has a reshaped brass blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight with 900 yard top notch, no sight dovetail on the frame, the two-line address and Henry patent marking ahead of the rear sight, “8010.” behind the rear sight at the breech, a sling loop on the left side of the barrel, “718” on the loading sleeve and barrel, sling swivel on the left side of the buttstock with pronounced
“Henry bump” below as well as a similar “bump” on the left side of
the wrist, thumb-screw lever latch, and brass buttplate with pointed
heel and empty stock compartment.
CONDITION: Very good with strong traces of the original blue finish
still visible in some of the protected areas of the barrel and magazine
tube (especially on the left side by the sling loop), highly attractive aged
patina on the frame and buttplate, some faint case colors remaining on
the hammer, mottled gray and brown patina on the balance, and general mild
overall wear including scratches and dings. The stock is likewise fine and has general
scrapes and dings, a small hairline crack at the rear of the upper tang, a scrape on the right side of the wrist, and several dents. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a solid representative example of a Civil War Henry rifle.
Provenance: The Tommy Rholes Collection; The Collection of David L. DeLullo.
Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000
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