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LOT 3044 Desirable and Rare Samuel J. Hoggson Factory Engraved Silver Plated New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 12342, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver plated finish, walnut stock. Factory engraved Henry lever action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., c. 1866- 1867. The rifle has a 24 inch blue octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine, casehardened lever and hammer, silver-plated brass receiver and crescent buttplate and straight grain walnut stock. The barrel has the late style nickel-silver square back front sight and dovetail mounted late pattern rear sight with 900 yard center notch, elevation bar retaining screw, and elevation bar with square ends. The rifle has the larger late brass follower and the receiver has the late milled follower slot. The crescent brass buttplate is the second pattern with pointed heel. The butt trap contains the four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod provided with later production Henry rifles. The left side of the stock and barrel are fitted with the standard Henry sling swivel and screw-fastened loop for a sling hook. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the factory legend “HENRY’S PATENT. OCT. 16.1860/MANUFACT’D. BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT.” in two lines. The legend is the slightly larger second pattern that utilizes all Roman style (serifed) letters. The serial number is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The serial number is also stamped on the lower left receiver tang beneath the stock, in the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate at the heel. The assembly number, “3929” is present on the barrel and loading sleeve. All of the visible serial numbers and assembly numbers match. The buttplate has the late cap-head screws which are correctly not stamped with the rifle serial number. The brass receiver and buttplate are decorated with large open scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The left side plate is engraved with the highly detailed image of a hound on point. The scrollwork on the receiver and side plates has delicate double-line borders. The engraving is the work of master engraver Samuel J. Hoggson or his shop. The scrollwork on this rifle lacks the ornate flowers found on earlier Hoggson engraved Henry rifles and is nearly identical to the engraving on Henry Rifle serial number “12173” illustrated on page 26 of “THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING” by R.L. Wilson. The scrollwork and hound on the left side plate are identical to the engraving illustrated on Henry Rifle serial number 9373 on page 25 of “THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING”. The rifle is accompanied by a detailed evaluation letter from Rob Kassab.
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