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  • /Lot 1008

Lot 1008:Engraved Silver Plated New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle

August 16th, 2025|Bedford, TX
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1008

Lot 1008:Engraved Silver Plated New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle

August 16th, 2025|Bedford, TX
Estimated Price$130,000 - $225,000
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Exceptional Civil War Era Factory Engraved and Silver Plated First Model New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle with Wooden Henry Cleaning Rod

Rock Island Auction Company is honored to be able to offer this beautiful example of an engraved and silver plated Henry rifle, bearing serial number 1446, as manufactured in 1863 during the middle of the Civil War. Factory engraved Henry rifles are scarce and among the most desirable of all the antique firearms by collectors today thanks to their important place in the development of lever action firearms and the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., as well as their place in the history of the American Civil War, the West, and popular culture. This highly attractive factory engraved Henry is about as desirable as it gets, with a factory silver plated brass frame and buttplate, along with a deluxe select grain walnut stock. The combination of silver plating and engraving was a $10 special order option offered from the New Haven Arms Company starting in 1862, and the frequency of Henry rifles made with these options quickly declined due to the company discouraging special order features during the peak of production at the height of the Civil War in order to meet production demands, per information on page 13 of Wiley Sword's book "The Historic Henry Rifle" (2006 publication). Many of these special ordered Henry rifles were known to have been presented to officers and prominent individuals. Of interesting note, this example, serial number 1446, has a factory engraving pattern extremely similar to another silver plated Henry rifle only three numbers away, bearing serial number 1449, that was recently sold by Rock Island Auction Company (Lot 14, May Premier 2025). The engraving pattern on the right side of the frame is nearly identical in pattern to the aforementioned gun, and the engraving pattern on the left side of the frame differs slightly, in which it is common to see differences in patterns on the limited amount of these factory engraved Henry rifles, illustrating true artistry of the time. That example, serial 1449, is featured on page 16 of "The Book of Winchester Engraving" (1975 publication) and page 22 of "Winchester Engraving" (1989 publication) both by R.L. Wilson, in which the photo captions indicate that its engraving pattern makes it nearly a twin to serial number 1441 also pictured in the books. The engraving is similar to those on other Henry rifles of the period and consists of scrollwork, decorative borders, and floral blooms with punchdot backgrounds on the frame, side panels, and first type buttplate. Equipped with a blade front sight, with an empty dovetail slot provision for a rear sight on the barrel, and a flip-up ladder sight mounted in the dovetail slot on top of the frame. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Henry patent and New Haven Arms Co. address markings ahead of the rear sight and the serial number is located at the breech. Includes an original early type Henry four-piece hickory cleaning rod with iron ferrules located inside the butt compartment. Provenance: The Mac McCroskie Collection

ConditionExceptionally fine. The barrel retains 60% original blue finish with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance. 90% plus original silver plating remains on the frame and buttplate, exhibiting a highly attractive untouched original evenly aged blue-black patina. 70% of the vivid original case colors remain on the hammer, and strong traces of original blue finish visible on the lever with scattered light freckling. Absolutely crisp factory engraving and barrel markings. The stock is excellent with captivating deluxe grain pattern, a few minor storage handling marks, all of the original glossy piano varnish finish, and tight fitment. Mechanically excellent. The wooden four-piece cleaning rod is fine. This exceptional factory engraved Henry rifle would be a prized addition to any antique firearms collection.
Details
ManufacturerNew Haven Arms Co.
ModelHenry Rifle
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge44 Henry RF
Barrel24 1/4 inch octagon
Finishblue/silver
Stockdeluxe walnut
Bore conditionThe bore is partially bright with some minor pitting and defined rifling.

Item LocationBedford, TX
Views403
Catalog page10
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