Page 26 - 87-BOOK3

LOT 3025
Extremely Rare Iron Frame New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle Consecutively Numbered with
Another Iron Frame Henry in the Auction
24
- Serial no. 127, 44 Henry cal., 24 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Reportedly less than 100 of the original New Haven Arms Co. iron frame Henry rifles are known to collectors today making them one of the rarest and most desirable of all of the classic American lever action rifles. Further adding to the already extraordinary rarity of this rifle is the fact that its consecutively serial numbered rifle is also extant and in this auction in LOT 27. While 127 is listed among the identified iron frame rifles in Sword’s “The Historic Henry Rifle,” this rifle was not identified. Only an estimated 200-300 Henry rifles with iron frames were manufactured by New Haven Arms Co. before the company discontinued them in favor of the distinctive “brass” gunmetal frames. These iron framed rifles were manufactured during the first three months of production (April-June 1862), and the known serial numbers of the identified iron frame Henry rifles range from 1-393. Collectors have also identified seventy-seven brass frame Henry rifles in this same serial number range and sixteen brass and iron frame Henry rifles with duplicate serial numbers. The rifle has the distinctive early production features which include: rear sight dovetails on both the barrel and receiver, loading lever without a latch spur, no provision for a lever latch on the lower tang, straight, non-beveled receiver follower slot, rounded buttplate heel, and matching serial numbers stamped on the shanks of the buttplate screws and the tang screws as well as the breech end of the barrel and the inside of the buttplate. The rear sight dovetail on the barrel is empty, and the rear dovetail is fitted with a notch and folding ladder rear sight with 900 yard center notch at the top of the ladder.