Make: New Haven Arms Co.

Model: 1860 Henry

Serial Number: 5570

Year of Manufacture: 1864

Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire

Action Type: Lever Action with Slotted Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “HENRY’S PATENT OCT. 16, 1860 / MANUFACT’D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CT.” and at the receiver with “5570”. The left side of the lower tang is marked “5570”, found again stamped in the upper tang inlet of the wrist. The inside of the buttplate at the toe is marked "1918".

Barrel Length: 24" Nominal, 24 1/4" Measured. The barrel is octagonal, round at the muzzle-end where the magazine sleeve is installed.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a collar screw-set to the barrel at the muzzle end. The rear sight is a two-position folding sight with two different "V"-notches. It appears to be a modified original ladder-style sight with the ladder arm mostly removed and a notch deepened at the center. The detent spring is missing, a shim has been installed. The sight is loose in the dovetail and will fall out.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is smooth select walnut with a sling swivel mounted to a plate on the left side below the comb (there is a sling mount on the left of the barrel assembly between the magazine and barrel). The buttplate is an early style brass crescent plate with a soft point at the heel and a trapdoor over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stock has a repaired loss at the toe and a filled loss at the heel. There are cracks around the front edges of the wrist. There are small losses around the sling plate. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 13 3/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a mustard patina with some scattered discoloration. Overall, the stock is in Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Brass

Finish Originality: The iron parts have been refinished. Outside of the repairs, the brass finish appears Original. The buttplate is not original to the

gun.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is moderate-heavy erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 3 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish, all in the receiver. There is a little blue finish between the magazine and barrel. There is some finish on the hammer. Most finish is on the receiver which has gone to a mustard patina. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. Both of the receiver tangs have broken off and been braze-repaired. There is a dent on the magazine at the slot which prevents the follower from being pushed all the way forward. There is a small raised spot on the bottom of the lifter, indicating that the lifter arm has worn the interior. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Fair-Good condition as repaired Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The magazine follower cannot be pushed all the way forward due to a dent in the magazine. The lever has notable play when the action is closed. The trigger return spring is missing or broken, the hammer will not catch the sear unless the trigger is pressed forward manually. The hammer does not have a half-cock safety. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Henry rifle was designed in 1860 and held 16 brass cartridges in its magazine. Sources aren’t clear about when it actually began production, but by 1866 it ceased production with about 14,000 having been manufactured. At that time, New Haven Arms became Winchester Repeating Arms Company and the Henry evolved into the Model 1866 Winchester. A few thousand Henry Rifles were purchased by the Union during the Civil War and many more were privately purchased by Union soldiers. The rifle quickly became known as the “rifle that you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long”. We can’t imagine what it must have been like for the Confederate troops to have faced these rapid firing rifles armed with only their muzzleloaders, but because the Henry wasn’t purchased in large numbers by the Union, there were only a few Civil War battles where the Henry played a decisive role, one of which was the Battle of Franklin. Unfortunately for Custer and his Springfield Trapdoor armed troops, a few Henry rifles also fell into the possession of the Sioux and Cheyenne troops at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.

This rifle was made in 1864 and a previous owner has gone through some effort and expense to keep it going. The iron parts received a new blue finish somewhere in the distant past, both receiver tangs broke and were brazed back in place, the buttplate has been replaced with what is likely an earlier piece, and the stock has some repaired damage. Most, if not all of this work appears to have been done some time ago, so it is possible this was a working rifle for much of its life. Any Henry will make a great addition to a collection of lever action rifles, Winchesters, or early repeating cartridge firearms, and we're sure this one will be no exception. Please see our photos and good luck!