Page 198 - 88-BOOK1

196
LOT 198
Historic U.S. Martially Inspected Second Contract New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle Inscribed for J. Donavan of Co. D, 3rd Regiment, 1st Army Corps Veteran Volunteers - Serial no. 7579, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/brass finish, walnut stock. This U.S. contract Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. January 1865. This rifle has the mid-late production Henry features which include: second style receiver without rear sight dovetail, buttplate with sharply pointed heel, a nickel-silver front sight blade with flat rear, a large diameter brass follower with beveled follower cut in the receiver, late style folding leaf rear sight with elevation bar with rounded ends and elevation bar stop screw below the 900 yard center notch, the second style barrel legend with longer (3-9/32-inch) markings using all serif letters, standard sling swivels and screw mounted sling loop on the left side of the stock and barrel. The rifle has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine and brass receiver and buttplate. The barrel and integral magazine are blued, the receiver and buttplate are natural brass/gunmetal, and the hammer, trigger, and lever are color casehardened. The stock is oil finished, straight grain American walnut. The serial number is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver and on the inside of the buttplate below the trap door. Out of caution, the stock has not been removed, but the matching serial number is almost certainly repeated on the left side of the lower receiver tang and in the stock upper tang inlet. The small “E” inspection mark is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch and a very faint, barely noticeable “AWM” inspection mark is on the left side of the stock at the wrist (the appropriate inspection mark for a U.S. contract rifle in the sn. 7000-9000 range which includes rifles ordered for the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
This rifle has “J. D. Co. D. 3. R.” inscribed on the top of the frame and “J. DONOVAN/CO. D. 3. REGT/1ST A.C.V.V.” inscribed on the left side. The 3rd Regiment of the 1st Army Corps were veterans led by General Winfield Scott Hancock. General Orders No. 287 dated November 28, 1864, called for a new 1st Army Corps made up of 20,000 veterans who had served at least two years and had been honorably discharged. The orders also noted that “Each recruit who preserves his arms to the end of his term may retain them as his own upon being honorably discharged.”