This Henry Lever Action Rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., circa November 1865. The rifle has the distinctive brass receiver and buttplate with octagon barrel and integral, 15-shot, magazine. The barrel has a brass, square back, front sight blade and folding, adjustable leaf, rear sight. The rear sight is the fourth pattern with 900 yard center notch and elevator bar stop screw near the top of the sight. The magazine has the second style, large diameter, brass follower and the bottom of the receiver has the beveled, follower cut-out. The receiver lacks the alternate rear sight dove-tail found on early production Henry rifles. The straight grain, American walnut, stock is fitted with a factory sling swivel on the left side. The left side of the barrel has a screw-fastened loop for a sling hook. The second style buttplate with sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trap door. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the second style, two-line legend: "HENRY'S PATENT.OCT.16.1860/ MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO.NEWHAVEN. CT.". This legend is slightly larger than the marking found on early-mid production Henry rifles and features all serifed letters. The rifle serial number is located: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) on the left side of the lower tang beneath the stock, (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 late style, cap-head buttplate and receiver screws are correctly not serial numbered. The lower receiver tang is stamped with the "W" inspection mark attributed to Oliver Winchester. The Henry rifle was the most advanced rifle available during the Civil War. Although the Ordnance Department purchased only 1,731 Henry rifles during the Civil War, experts believe that the majority of the 9000 plus Henry rifles manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company between April 1862 and May 1865 were purchased by individual Federal soldiers who wanted the firepower of a 15-shot repeating rifle. By 1864, many Federal soldiers in western regiments were armed with privately purchased Henry rifles. Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection

Fine. The barrel and magazine have a silver-gray patina with scattered patches of age discoloration and a few spots of light pitting. The front sight blade is a period replacement. The rear sight is complete and original. The New Haven Arms legend and the serial number are crisp. The receiver is very fine with minimal handling wear. The sideplate joints are tight with few very minor disassembly marks along the upper edges of both sideplates. The case colors on the hammer, lever and trigger have a silver-brown patina. The bottom of the hammer has light surface texturing. The brass buttplate is also very fine. The brass receiver and buttplate have a very attractive aged patina. The stock is fine with the "Henry Bump" present on the side; wear is limited to several shallow dents and handling marks, primarily on the underside between the lower tang and buttplate. Mechanically fine. This is a well above average Henry rifle that would compliment any collection!