Make: New Haven Arms Co.

Model: 1860 Henry

Serial Number: 1955

Year of Manufacture: Ca. June 1863

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.” (early-style marking) and at the receiver with “1955”. The left side of the lower tang is marked “1955”, found again stamped on the inside of the buttplate at the toe and the top tang inlet of the stock. The serial number is also marked on the buttplate and stock mounting screws. The bottom tang has Benjamin Tyler Henry's "H" personal inspection mark.

Barrel Length: 24″ Octagonal

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 folding ladder-style sight. The rear sight presents a “V”-notch when folded down. When folded up, the ladder has a “V”-notch slider and is graduated from 2-8 in 100s of yards. There is a notch at the top of the ladder marked “90”.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with a straight wrist, straight comb, and brass crescent buttplate. There is no Henry “bump” on the left side. The stock has some light nicks and scuffs, as well as some small scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some light nicks and scratches, and has gone to a mustard patina with the crystalline appearance of old brass. Overall, the stock is in about Excellent condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: The barrel is blued. The lever, hammer, and trigger are case colored. The receiver, carrier, and magazine follower are brass.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some light erosion and minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 6 or 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish. The steel parts have gone to a fairly uniform light patina. The receiver has gone to a mustard patina with the crystalline appearance of old brass. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good to Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer does not have a half-cock safety. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Henry repeating rifles were highly prized by Union troops in the Civil War. With a round in the chamber, a Henry was capable of firing 16 shots in about 11 seconds, just about the same amount of time it would take even a seasoned “Billy Yank” to reload and fire one shot with his standard muzzleloading Springfield. The Henry quickly proved devastatingly effective, and earned a fearsome reputation during the “War Between the States”. One period advertisement read, “A resolute man, armed with one of these Rifles, particularly on horseback, CANNOT BE CAPTURED.” While most Henrys used in the Civil War were acquired by regiments with their own funds or even by individual soldiers, some units were issued Henry rifles directly from the Ordnance Department. One such unit was the 1st District of Columbia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (also known as the 1st DC Cavalry). 1,100 Henry rifles in the serial number range 1392-4000 were issued to the 1st DC Cavalry in 1863. Those Henrys in the early portion (under 3000) of that range were never actually Ordnance Department inspected/accepted; they were simply “bought off the shelves” and issued. The exact serial numbers of those Henrys purchased were also never recorded. With this rifle being serial number 1955, it’s squarely in the 1st DC Cavalry range, and is correct with only the one factory inspection “H” initial stamp of Benjamin Tyler Henry himself. 

This Antique New Haven Arms Company Henry Repeating Rifle was made in ca. June 1863. The serial numbered parts all match, including the stock and buttplate mounting screws, and the rifle has surprisingly strong mechanics for its age. Overall, this rifle shows relatively light wear for the passage of over 160 years. This is a wonderful, attractive example of a fine, early US Civil War Era Henry in the 1st DC Cavalry serial number range.