RARE EARLY NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. IRON FRAME HENRY S/N 14 LEVER ACTION RIFLE, 1860
SOLD FOR: $83,300
Rare early New Haven Arms Co. 1860 Iron Frame Henry Serial Number 14 Lever Action Rifle
Make: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: 1860 Henry
Serial Number: 14
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1860
Caliber: .44 Henry Rimfire
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 small-style marking) and at the receiver with “14”. The left side of the lower tang is marked “14”, found again stamped on the inside of the buttplate at the heel and the top tang inlet of the stock. The three stock mounting screws, the buttplate mounting screws and the interior of the buttplate are each marked “14”. The round portion of the barrel and the rear face of the magazine sleeve are each marked with assembly number “22”.
Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal
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 “V”-notch buckhorn sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. There is a dovetail on the top of the receiver behind the ejection port.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is smooth walnut with an early-style sharp comb, perch belly, early-style iron buttplate with trapdoor, and a straight wrist. The wood appears to have seen some cleaning and possibly minimal sanding, but the “bump” is present on the left of the stock. There are a few light nicks and some scattered discoloration. There are a couple of tiny losses at the edges of the wrist. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate patina with some scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stock is in Fine condition as ANTIQUE.
Type of Finish: The barrel and receiver are blued. The lever, hammer and trigger are case hardened.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 7% of its metal finish. Finish remains only in protected areas, primarily on the bottom around the trigger and on the top-rear of the receiver around the hammer slot. Most surfaces have gone to a mottled light patina with some areas worn to white. There is some scattered light surface oxidation and infrequent surface erosion, most notable is a spot to the left of the follower slot toward the rear of the magazine. 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 about Very Good condition as ANTIQUE.
Mechanics: The sear engagement is weak.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A four-piece hickory cleaning rod is included, stored in the buttstock.
Our Assessment: There is some mystery around the early production of the Henry rifles with sources indicating that production started in either 1860 or 1862. What is known is that, for some reason, early production consisted of rifles with frames made out of gunmetal (brass) as well as some with iron frames. Thanks to a survey by Les Quick for his book “The Story of Benjamin Tyler Henry and His Famed Repeating Rifle”, it is known that the serial numbers of the iron frame rifles were frequently duplicated in the brass frame guns, leading to speculation that there were actually two different production lines, possibly even two different facilities. The highest known iron frame serial number is 355, making it likely that as few as 400 were produced before the iron frame was abandoned and all production went to brass frames. While all surviving Henry rifles are scarce and desirable, the iron frame guns are even moreso.This example is serial 14 and displays a number of early features. Perhaps most important, early Henry rifles had serial markings on their barrel, receiver tang, buttplate, buttstock, and the various stock mounting screws, and all of the serial numbers match on this rifle. The assembly numbers on the barrel and magazine sleeve are also matching. The buttstock has an early sharp comb, the plate is of the early style. Unlike most of Henry rifles produced, this example does not have any provision for mounting a sling, also typical of the earliest Henrys.This a fantastic find for collectors. Any Model 1860 will make a great addition to a collection of lever action rifles, Winchesters, or early repeating cartridge firearms, but such an early Iron Frame Henry is going to take a prized place in even the most advanced collections. Please see our photos and good luck!
