Late production Henry Lever-Action rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1866. The rifle is factory engraved with large, open scroll work on a punch dot background on the front panels, right side-plate, upper tang, top of the receiver and heel of the silver plated buttplate.. The left side plate has a simple game scene that consists of a doe leaping a fence flanked by two smaller scrolls. The engraving on the side plates and front receiver panels has a line and scallop border. The engraving on this rifle is nearly identical to the engraving on Henry serial no. 12173 illustrated on page 26 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. The style of engraving on this rifle is less common than the typical Henry engraving which features a large flower petal design on the front panels. The engraving on this rifle was probably executed by Samuel J. Hoggson who was the factory engraver for the New Haven Arms Company. In addition to the silver plated receiver and buttplate, the rifle has a nicely figured walnut stock with a high polish piano finish. The barrel and 15-shot integral magazine are blued and the hammer and lever are color casehardened. The rifle has the late production features which include: (1) square-back, nickel-silver front sight blade, (2) dovetail mounted, folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch and elevation bar stop screw at the top of the leaf, (3) large diameter magazine follower and beveled follower cut in the lower receiver, (4) 'Type II' receiver which lacks the alternate rear sight dove tail found on Henry rifles thru approximately serial number 3000, (5) screw-mounted sling hook loop on the left side of the barrel and sling swivel on the left side of the stock, (6) second style buttplate with sharp pointed heel and (7) four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod with brass tip. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the second style legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT., in two lines. The second style legend is slightly larger than the legend used thru about serial number 3500 and has all Roman (serif) letters. The serial number, "12352" is located on: (1) the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver, (2) the lower left side of the receiver tang beneath the stock, (3) in the upper tang inlet of the stock and (4) on the inside of the buttplate. The late style buttplate and tang screws are correctly not serial numbered. All of the visible serial numbers match. "F" is stamped on the left side of the upper tang beneath the stock and "26" is stamped in front of the serial number on the lower left side of the tang. The significance of these markings is unknown. Silver plating and factory engraving added $10.00 to the $42.00 base price of a Henry rifle. Factory engraved, silver-plated Henry rifles are scarce.

Fine. The rifle retains 25% of the blue finish overall. The receiver and buttplate retain 80% or more of the silver plated finish with light-moderate high point wear and some tarnishing. The factory engraving remains crisp and deep. The receiver has some scattered, minor dents and scratches with good side plate joints. The barrel has a smooth, plum colored patina and retains considerable amounts of the original blue finish in the groove between the barrel and magazine, The barrel legend is sharp. The case colors on the hammer and lever have faded to a smooth gray patina. The nicely figured walnut stock is in very fine overall condition and retains much of the high polish piano finish. This is a fine example of a scarce deluxe, factory engraved, silver-plated Henry lever action rifle.