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.44 CALIBER BRASS FRAME HENRY RIFLE-1863 PRODUCTION
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$23,500.00 ON HOLD
Quantity Available: 1
Item Code: 1302-01
The Henry rifle needs no introduction to Civil War, western, or pretty much any arms collector or student of the American West. Oliver Winchester encouraged one potential dealer, “There will be no stopping the Henry when it is demonstrated. The Henry will become the Arm of the Century,” and he was not wrong by far, if at all. The rifle could hold fifteen .44 caliber rimfire cartridges in its magazine (loaded by compressing the spring and turning the top of the barrel assembly to drop them in the magazine tube,) and a sixteenth cartridge in the chamber. This gave the bearer a stupendous amount of firepower. Veteran anecdotes and company sales pamphlets were full of stories of individuals and small units defeating many time their number of enemy troops. It was remarked that Henry-armed troops had no need for bayonets since an enemy could not approach within forty rods.
Here is a fine brass-frame Henry rifle, one of about 14,000 Henry rifles manufactured between 1860 and 1866. The distinctive rifle measures 43½” long overall and sports a 24” long octagonal barrel with a front-loading, integral tube magazine below. Magazine can hold fifteen .44 caliber rimfire metallic cartridges. Barrel exhibits a mix of dark gray and plum color. The iron folding-leaf rear sight is fitted into the top of the barrel 1 inch from the receiver but, it is missing the slide elevator. The alternant, factory installed, top brass frame sight dovetail is present and not filled. There is a German silver blade sight at the muzzle. Stamped sharply on the top barrel facet directly in front of the 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.” Stamped behind the rear sight on the top of the barrel is the serial number, “2280”. The Henry rifle is loaded by compressing the spring in the magazine by pushing a brass thumb tab toward the muzzle. Once this is done, a 5” long portion of the barrel, at the muzzle, can be rotated to the side. This exposes the open magazine tube which holds the 15 cartridges. All of these loading components are complete and operational on this gun. Barrel metal is clean and smooth with no pitting and only minor dings on edges from use. Bore is clear with a slight frosting. Rifling is very good.
Heavy brass receiver frame and brass butt plate wear a pleasing, mellow bronze patina. The surface is totally untouched. Small dings and fine scratches are scattered throughout. The top and bottom surfaces of the right-hand receiver door show signs of being tapped on during removal/replacement while in-service. The underside of the brass trigger tang shows an “H” stamp of B. Tyler Henry himself. Hinged door in butt plate works well. No cleaning rod remains in its compartment. The screws throughout the rifle show signs of use but, not battered.
Varnished, black walnut stock has beautiful color and exhibits normal handling and use consistent with age. No cracks or breaks in the stocks. The rear portion of the butt, near the end of the brass trigger guard tang, has two unusual features. The two small areas about 1 ½ inches long appear to have had some sort of stock marking intentionally removed. During the period of use the two disturbed areas had a small amount of the surface wood scarped away. What appears to a number “3” can still be observed. These markings may have been an early company inventory number or something similar to “Wells Fargo”. No sling swivels were installed on the barrel or the butt, as it was an option during that stage of production. The locking latch behind the tang is in place and functions properly. Mechanically, the rifle is perfect.
Given the production shortages during manufacture and extreme demand, available Henry rifles were being shipped as soon as they were made. In one instance, to fulfill an early US government order, dealers were paid the standard sales royalty on guns consigned to them, and shipped the rifles back to the factory. With a serial number of 2280, this rifle left the factory sometime in the first half of 1863. A very good, very hard to find, Civil War Henry Rifle. [stp] [jet]
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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