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This 1864 production Henry’s
serial number falls between two
Henrys documented as carried
by the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran
Volunteers, these being number
3879 and number 3881 (p. 75
“The Historic Henry Rifle” by Wiley
Sword). However, given the U.S.
inspector’s marks present on this
rifle, it was almost certainly one of those issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment.
The U.S. inspector mark “HH” is on the right of the frame and barrel, and the
“C.G.C.” inspector’s mark is on the right of the barrel. These rifles were part of
a government order for 800 rifles on 30 December 1863, and it appears these
800 all came from the 3000-4000 serial number range, and are the only Henry
rifles which bear the “C.G.C.” government inspector’s markings, per “The Story of
Benjamin Tyler Henry and His Famed Repeating Rifle” by Les Quick (pg. 146). 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. This example has the early style frame which shows an abrupt angle and only a slight edge bevel on the upper
rear, which was standard until approximately the 4900 serial number range. The lever is of the second style with a spur that engages the lever latch screw,
which entered production in the early 400 serial number range and continued until the end of production. The hammer has the correct course, hand-filed
checkering. The frame correctly lacks a rear sight dovetail slot, a feature that was discontinued around the 3100 serial number range. The magazine follower
is the correct, larger, second style and the frame has the correct milled flats in the receiver slot. The barrel has the correct, two-line, larger style Henry’s patent
and New Haven address marking, which appeared in the 3000 serial number range. The rear sight dovetail is just in front of the second style, larger-digit serial
number, which is at the breech. The matching serial number is marked on the barrel, left side of the lower tang, in the stock inlet, inside the buttplate, and
on the shank of both buttplate screws. The buttplate screws are hand-fitted to the contour of the buttplate and thus are correctly numbered, while the tang
screws are not hand-fitted and correctly lack numbers, a transition variation which is seen in approximately the 3000-5600 serial number range. It is fitted the
period replacement, low-profile silver blade front sight and period replacement fixed notch rear sight. It is not fitted with sling swivels. It is correctly mounted
with the last style buttstock, which entered production around the 3200 serial number range and has the gently sloping comb, flat bottom, and distinctive
“Henry bump” on the left, as well as being fitted with the earlier style trapdoor buttplate with the rounded heel that was standard until around the 5100 serial
number range. The trapdoor compartment contains an included wood four-piece sectionalized cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a brown patina on the iron components with some scattered light pitting, a few patches of oxidation, and clear
markings. The fine brass shows an attractively aged patina overall with some scattered light dings and scratches, and the sideplates showing a mostly tight
fit. The rear screw on the upper tang is broken off in the threads. The stock is also very good with faint cartouche, scattered minor dings and scratches
throughout, and some light chips/short cracks at the toe. Mechanically fine. These U.S. martially inspected Henrys are scarce in any condition, and this
example is well above average!
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500
Historic Note
The Ordnance Department’s December 30, 1863,
contract order was filled with 800 rifles in the 3000-
4000 serial number range which were shipped to the
arsenal in Washington, D.C. These rifles were issued
to the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry Regiment
and are the only Henry rifles marked with Ordnance
Inspector marks on the stock and barrel.
LOT 215
Very Scarce 50-Count Dominion Cartridge Co. Box of .44 Henry Flat Rimfire Cartridges, for Henry or Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifles and Colt
Revolvers - This is a scarce full 50-count box of .44 Henry flat rimfire cartridges by the Dominion Cartridge Co. of Montreal, Canada, of cardboard construction
with red labels and white text and imagery including an illustration of a cartridge and the Dominion logo, with the top marked “44 FLAT BLACK/ADAPTED TO
WINCHESTER & HENRY MODEL 1866 RIFLES & COLT REVOLVERS” (covers all the desirable and collectible American firearms!) along with manufacturer name and
address. The sides have the manufacturer, caliber and “BLACK POWDER”. These boxes are one of the few .44 Henry boxes that also refer to Colt rimfire revolvers on
the label. The cartridges inside have “D” headstamps.
CONDITION: Box is fine with some mild aging and storage related wear, legible labels, and opened seals. Cartridges are very fine. This scarce 50-count Dominion
Cartridge Co. box of .44 Henry flat rimfire cartridges would make a fine accessory to accompany a variety of antique American firearms!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500 219