This famed ‘Henry’ longarm, the most advanced weapon to be used in service during the Civil War, is the distinctive, brass-framed, lever-action, repeating Yankee rifle without a forend that many Confederate soldiers were purported to whine “they (Yankees) could wind it up on Sunday and shoot all week.”

Stamped with serial #8804, it was one of some 14,000 Henry rifles manufactured between 1860 and 1866. From the records at Winchester Firearms, this Henry rifle was produced in the first quarter of 1865 at the New Haven Arms Co. facility in New Haven, Connecticut, and likely was a civilian purchase. The Henry rifle employed .44 rimfire caliber, metallic cartridges of which fifteen could be loaded into the tubular magazine below the octagonal barrel.

Rifle measures 43½” long overall including stock, and has a 24¼” long barrel with a front-loading, integral tubular magazine mounted below. Magazine will hold fifteen .44 caliber rimfire metallic cartridges plus one more in the chamber. Records indicate the U.S. government purchased and issued only 1,731 Henry rifles numbered in the 3,000 to 4,200 range. Octagonal barrel surface exhibits a patchy mix of dark gray and brown patina with light scattered fine pitting and dark oxidation overall. Barrel edges show smooth wear and slight rounding. Serial number #8804 strongly stamped on barrel just in front of the brass receiver / frame.

Receiver and the contoured butt plate both wear a pleasing, smooth brass patina. Stamped clearly in block letters / numerals on the top barrel flat, directly in front of the folding-leaf, sliding long-range rear sight, is the two-line maker mark “HENRY’S PATENT OCT. 16, 1860 / MANUFACT’D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CT.” Barrel muzzle area has the original, low brass blade front sight. Rifle was loaded by contracting the magazine spring below the tube all the way forward into the barrel muzzle section, twisting this 5” long section on its horizontal axis to expose the open magazine to inset the cartridges. When loaded, turn and align the muzzle section to the closed position. Rifle retains the original magazine sliding spring in very strong condition.

Varnished black walnut stock exhibits no government cartouches. Stock has a 9” comb, exhibits minor dings, dents and small gouges from normal handling / use. No break or cracks. Stock has a screwed-in base for a single hinged sling swivel at the upper left shoulder area. A fixed sling hook is mounted horizontally to the barrel channel on left side. Retains its lever locking latch on bottom of stock at triggerguard tang. No cleaning / wiping rods stowed in the butt plate’s brass-hinged door. The bore is semi-bright with strong rifling. Would clean to bright. Action is tight and crisp.

A very fine, Civil War production Henry Rifle in very good plus overall condition.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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