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34
LOT 3028
Desirable Civil
War Era Production
New Haven Arms
Co. Henry Lever
Action Rifle - Serial
no. 5745, 44 Henry RF
cal., 24 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/brass finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured in July of 1864, this is
a fine example of a Civil War era production New Haven Arms
Company Henry rifle. The Henry lever action rifle checks all the boxes
among American firearms collectors, as it is the predecessor to the
famous Winchester lever actions, one of the most advanced firearms of
the American Civil War, and is also an icon of the “Wild West”. Many of
these advanced rifles were purchased by the federal government for use
during the Civil War, and many more were also privately purchased by
veterans using their reenlistment bonuses, which this example appears to
be. The stock of the rifle is stamped “H.BRAINERD” on the left of the wrist
and the right side, who was likely the original or a previous owner. There
are multiple possible matches for Civil War soldiers that fit that name,
including Herbert Brainerd, a quartermaster sergeant in the 1st Vermont
Cavalry Regiment. Many of the Henrys that saw Civil War use, later made
their way farther west in the hands of those who were brave enough to
venture onto the untamed frontier. These rifles often saw decades of hard
use on the battlefield and the American West, with most bearing the scars
to prove it.
This mid-1864 production Henry has the later style frame which shows
a more gentle angle and larger edge bevel on the upper rear, a change
which began to appear in 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
coarse, 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, and inside the
buttplate. The screws are correctly unnumbered, as was common after the
5600 serial number range. The butt of the stock is hand marked in black
marker with two symbols and “E.W. Haley/Lawrence KS.” and the same
symbol is marked inside the buttplate. It is fitted with the correct, square-
backed, German silver blade front sight and correct folding ladder rear
sight graduated to 900 yards. There are sling swivels mounted on the left
of the barrel with a ring and left of the stock. It is correctly mounted with
the last style buttstock, which entered production around the 3200 serial
number range and has the gently sloping comb and flat bottom, as well as
being fitted with the last style trapdoor crescent buttplate which became
standard in the 5100 serial number range. This rifles serial number is just
two digits before the rifle in the following lot.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 30% of the original blue finish, a rare feat for any
Henry, with the balance of the iron primarily a brown patina and some
scattered small patches of dark oxidation. The fine brass shows mostly
an attractively aged patina, a few spots with a series of light scratches or
dings, and
small gaps at
the tops of the
sideplates. The
wood is also fine
with minor dings and
scratches and legible
name stamps (see above).
Mechanically excellent. An
attractive example of a Civil War
era Henry that was likely stamped with the name of its
original owner!
Estimate:
22,500 - 35,000