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LOT 1011
Exceptional, Historic, and Highly Desirable Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected 3rd Regiment Veteran Volunteer Infantry Serial Number Range New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 7614, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Henry rifle was manufactured by
the New Haven Arms Company in December 1864, it remains in outstanding condition, and 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). This example (no. 7614) falls between Henry rifle nos. 7610 and 7615, which are known to have been issued to the 3rd VVI (see Wiley Sword’s “The Historic Henry Rifle,” page 75). 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. As an enlistment bonus, 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. The rifle features a later style front sight with squared back, a folding ladder rear sight marked “900” on the top of the leaf, a second style brass receiver that correctly lacks the alternate rear sight dovetail, brass buttplate with pointed upper extension, factory sling hook loop on the left side of the barrel, and factory sling swivel fastened to the left side of the stock. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line patent/ address legend ahead of the rear sights and the serial number “7614.” at the breech.
