This fine original Henry Lever Action Rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in July 1864. The rifle has the distinctive Henry brass receiver and buttplate with octagon barrel and integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel/magazine and bolt are blued, and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The straight grain American walnut stock is oil finished. The barrel has the late style, square back, nickel-silver front sight blade and a dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight. The sight leaf has an elevator bar with rounded ends, elevator bar stop screw and 900 yard center notch. The second style receiver lacks the alternate rear sight dovetail found on Henry receivers up to about serial number 3000. The bottom of the receiver has the late, beveled, magazine follower cut, and the magazine has the large diameter brass follower. The crescent buttplate is the second style with sharp pointed heel introduced around serial number 5100 and late, small diameter, buttplate screws. The buttplate has a hinged brass trapdoor. The left side of the stock and barrel have a factory sling swivel and screw mounted loop for a sling hook. The hook loop is fitted with a ring. The sling swivel and hook loop were originally special order features but were standard by early 1864. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the second style legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16, 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CT." in two lines. The second style legend, introduced in the late 3000 serial number range, is larger with all serif letters than the smaller, first style legend that used a combination of serif and block letters. The serial number is stamped: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the lower left side of the receiver tang, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock, and (4) on the inside of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The buttplate and tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered. The small "H" sub-inspection mark of B. Tyler Henry is stamped on the lower tang behind the lever latch. Experts believe that most Henry rifles made prior to 1865 were privately purchased by individual federal soldiers who wanted the unprecedented firepower offered by the 15-shot Henry repeating rifle. The Henry rifle was especially popular with soldiers in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky regiments. Many of these soldiers purchased Henry rifles from dealers in Louisville, Kentucky, and other mid-west cities in 1864 using re-enlistment bounties.

Fine. This rifle retains 30% plus of the bright original blue finish, mostly on protected areas of the barrel/magazine. The balance of the barrel/magazine has aged to a plum patina. The edges are sharp. The barrel legend and serial number are clear. The front and rear sight appear to be original to the rifle. Wear on the barrel/magazine is limited to scattered age spotting. The bolt has 20% of the original blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever retain at least 60% of the muted case colors. The bottom of the lever has some scattered age spotting. The receiver and buttplate are both in very fine condition with a mellow, untouched patina. The receiver side plate joints are perfect and wear is limited to few shallow scratches on the bottom of the receiver and cartridge elevator. The buttplate has a few very minor dents and scratches. The stock is in very fine condition and retains most of the original oil finish; wear is limited to a few insignificant handling and storage marks. This is a really outstanding example of a Civil War production Henry rifle that is in far better condition than most 1864 production Henry rifles. If you want to own a fine, totally original Henry rifle, look no further!