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LOT 3229
Civil War U.S. 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry Serial Number Range New Haven
Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 8573, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch
octagon bbl., blue/brass finish, walnut stock. This New Haven Arms Co. Henry lever
action rifle was manufactured in April 1865 and falls within the 8400-9400+ serial
number range listed in “The Historic Henry Rifle” by Wiley Sword for the 627 Henry
rifles purchased by the Ordnance Department on April 7 and May 16, 1865, to arm
the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Infantry (3rd VVI). In December 1864 the Federal Army
organized nine regiments composed of honorably discharged volunteers. Sn. 8577
is noted as issued to the 3rd VVI. 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 dovetail found on rifles manufactured
through 1863 and has the beveled follower slot. The brass buttplate is the second pattern with pointed heel and
has a hinged butt trapdoor. 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: the top barrel flat between the rear
sight and the receiver, on the inside of the buttplate, in the upper tang inlet of the stock, and 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 may be the name of the original owner of the rifle or another early owner. There
were multiple D. Wiggins that served during the Civil War, including men named Daniel Wiggins who served
in volunteer infantry units from multiple states along with David K. Wiggins of the 4th Illinois Cavalry, David R.
Wiggins of the 4th Illinois Cavalry, and David T. Wiggins of the 77th Illinois Infantry. These Illinois volunteers are
particularly of interest given Illinois infantry units represent a significant portion of the regiments known to
have been armed in part with Henry rifles. 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
are visible on the barrel and integral magazine with the balance aged
to an even and very attractive plumb brown patina. The barrel and magazine
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 scratches and handling marks. The hammer, trigger, lever and sling swivel
are a mottled gray-brown with scattered age spotting. The stock is fine with a distinct “Henry bump” visible below
the swivel and a few minor handling marks, chips, cracks, and dents. Mechanically functions. 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 Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500
According to "The Historic Henry Rifle" by Sword, this Henry rifle falls
in 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).
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