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LOT 1216
Identified 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action
Rifle - Serial no. 7854, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Henry lever
action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in January 1865 and issued to 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer
Infantry Regiment (3rd VVI). This rifle is one of 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in 1865. It is
identified by serial number as a 3rd VVI rifle on page 76 of “THE HISTORIC HENRY RIFLE” by Wiley Sword. The 3rd VVI
rifles were part of a group of Henry, Sharps and Spencer rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department to arm the four
Veteran Volunteer Infantry (VVI) regiments raised in early 1865. The VVI regiments were composed of veteran soldiers
armed with the most advanced firearms who would act as a corps of elite infantry. As an incentive for enlistment, the VVI
soldiers were authorized to retain their rifles when they mustered out of service. The VVI regiments were organized too late
to see any significant action in the Civil War. The 3rd VVI was mustered out of Federal service at Camp Butler, Illinois, in July
1866. Unlike the 900 Henry rifles purchased in December 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry regiment which were stamped with
“C.G.C.” Ordnance inspection marks on the receiver and stock, most of the Henry rifles purchased for the 3rd VVI in 1865 did not have
government inspection marks. However a few rifles, like this example, have been noted with the small block letters “JT” stamped on
the left side of the stock wrist. As Quick’s book states on Page 142, “JT” is one of the two variations of inspector initials. This rifle has
the distinctive Henry brass receiver and buttplate and octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel is blue, the hammer,
trigger and lever are casehardened and the stock is straight grain American walnut. The rifle has the Second Style receiver without
rear sight dovetail, late buttplate with sharply pointed heel, large diameter brass magazine follower and beveled follower cut in the
receiver. The folding leaf rear sight is the final pattern with an elevator bar stop screw in the top of the leaf. The left side of the stock
and barrel are fitted with a sling swivel and screw fastened loop for a sling hook. Although sling swivels and loops were special order
items on early Henry rifles, they were standard features on late production rifles. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the large
Second Style legend “HENRY’S PATENT OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT’D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN CT.” that uses all serif
(Roman) letters. The serial number is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver and on the left side
of the lower receiver tang, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate at the toe. The late style cap head
buttplate and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered. All of the visible serial numbers match. The butt trap contains the Second
Style, four piece, jointed steel cleaning rod with brass tip that was issued with these later production Henry rifles.
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