Page 194 - 4093-BOOK2

LOT 1189
Desirable Civil War 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry U.S. Contract New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial
no. 8532, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New
Haven Arms Company for the U.S. Ordnance Department in 1865. In April-May 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 627 Henry
lever action rifles from the New Haven
Arms Co. These late production U.S.
contract rifles are generally referred to
as “Type II” rifles to distinguish them
from the 800 U.S. contract Henry rifles
purchased in 1863 to arm the 1st D.C.
Cavalry Regiment. Most of the Henry
rifles issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry
have Ordnance sub-inspection marks
on the barrel, receiver and left side
of the stock wrist. The only Ordnance
mark on the later Type II rifles is the
sub-inspection mark “AWM” stamped
in small block letters on the left side of the stock wrist.
The Type II Henry rifles were issued to the 3rd U.S. Veteran
Volunteer Infantry (VVI) regiment. The serial number of this
rifle falls within the serial number range of 8400-9400 listed
by Wiley Sword on page 74 of “The Historic Henry Rifle” as issued to the 3rd VVI in 1865. The 3rd VVI was one of nine Veteran
Volunteer regiments recruited in early 1865 to serve as an elite corps of experienced infantry. The VVI regiments were issued Sharps,
Spencer or Henry rifles. As an enlistment incentive, VVI soldiers were allowed to retain their rifles on discharge. The 3rd VVI was organized
in February 1865 at Camp Stoneman, District of Columbia, and was stationed in the Shenandoah Valley and Washington defenses before
it was mustered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois, in July 1866. This rifle has a blue barrel and integral magazine and the distinctive
Henry brass, gunmetal receiver and crescent buttplate. The hammer and lever are color casehardened. The barrel has the late nickel-silver
squareback front sight blade and dovetail mounted folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 900 yard center notch and elevator bar
retaining screw at the top of the leaf. The rifle has the later large brass magazine follower and beveled follower cut-out in the bottom of
the receiver. The receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on early production Henry rifles. The brass buttplate is the second pattern with
sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trap door.
SERIAL NUMBER RANGE LISTED IN THE BOOK THE HISTORIC
HENRY RIFLE BY SWORD. THIS MARTIALLY INSPECTED
HENRY RIFLE IS IN THE RANGE OF THE 3RD U.S. VETERAN
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY ISSUED RIFLES.
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