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Very Fine Period Inscribed Henry Lever Action Rifle in the 3rd VVI Serial Number Range
LOT 3083
U.S. 3rd Regiment Serial Number Range Veteran
Volunteer Infantry New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action
Rifle - Serial no. 8573, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish,
walnut stock. This New Haven Arms Co., Henry lever action rifle was manufactured in April 1865. This rifle falls within
the serial number range of the 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department on April 7 and May 16, 1865 to arm the 3rd Veteran Volunteer infantry
regiment (3rd VVI). In December 1864 the Federal Army organized nine regiments composed of honorably discharged volunteers to act as an elite infantry corps. These regiments were armed with Sharps, Spencer or Henry rifles. The volunteers were authorized to retain their rifles when they mustered out of federal service. Approximately 800 Henry rifles were issued to the 3rd VVI including a number of rifles initially purchased to arm the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry regiment in 1864. The 1st D.C. Cavalry and 3rd VVI were the only federal regiments issued Henry rifles by the Ordnance Department during the Civil War. The 3rd VVI was assigned to the defenses of Washington D.C. in the spring of 1865 and mustered out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois in July 1866. This late production Henry rifle has the distinctive 24-inch octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine and brass receiver. The barrel has a nickel
silver, straight back, front sight and folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 900 yard center notch and elevation bar stop screw at the top of the leaf. The magazine has the large diameter brass follower. The second pattern receiver lacks the rear sight dove-tail found on rifles manufactured thru 1863 and has the beveled follower slot. The brass buttplate is the second pattern with pointed heel and has a hinged butt trap door. The left side of the stock and barrel are fitted with a sling swivel and screw-fastened loop for a sling hook which were standard
on late production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the large, second
style, legend: “HENRY’S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860./MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS. CO. NEWHAVEN. CT.” using all serif letters. The serial number is stamped on: (1) the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the inside of the buttplate, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock and (4) on the left side of the lower receiver tang. The late style buttplate
and tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered. All of the visible serial numbers match.
The “H” inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower
tang behind the lever latch. “D.W1GG1NS.” is hand-stamped on
the top of the receiver using a combination of letter and numeral
stamps. The stamping is possibly contemporary to the rifle (no
research provided about the aforementioned individual). This rifle has
the standard finish on the barrel and magazine, natural brass receiver
and buttplate and casehardened hammer, trigger and lever. The stock is
straight grain, oil-finished, walnut. This rifle, like most of the late production
Henry rifles issued to the 3rd VVI, has no Ordnance inspection marks.
CONDITION: Very good plus. Traces of original bright blue finish is visible on the barrel and integral magazine with the balance aged to an even and very attractive plumb brown patina. The barrel/magazines surfaces are smooth with a few scattered spots of age discoloration. The barrel edges are sharp. There are some faint scratches on the top barrel
flat near the legend. The New Haven Arms Co. markings are clear. The front sight blade and rear leaf sight are original to the rifle. The brass receiver and buttplate are fine with an attractive, aged, patina and only a few insignificant scratches and handling marks. The side plate joints are tight. The hammer, trigger, lever and sling swivel are a mottled gray-brown with scattered age spotting. The stock is fine with a distinct bump (Henry) visible below the swivel, a few minor handling marks. This is a good-looking, original, example of a Henry rifle in the serial number range of the 627 Henry rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department in April and May 1865 and issued to the 3rd VVI. Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000
THIS HENRY RIFLE FALLS INTO THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE OF 627 HENRY RIFLES PURCHASED BY THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT IN 1865 TO ARM THE 3RD VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT, WHICH WAS ORGANIZED TO OPERATE AS AN ELITE INFANTRY CORPS
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