.44 Henry RF Flat. 24" octagonal barrel. SN: 1975 (mfg. ca. 1863). Blued finish, color casehardened lever and hammer, brass frame and furniture,  round toe walnut buttstock with subtle perch belly profile. Lever action tubular magazine repeating rifle with factory sling swivels, replaced buckhorn rear sight, brass front sight blade and butt trap in stock that is void of cleaning rods. Standard two-line barrel address is mostly covered by the replacement rear sight, with only "HENRY'S" and "MANUFACT'D BY" markings still visible. Most of the markings are still present under the sight, except where the dovetail for the replacement sight was cut. Since no modern collector would cut a dovetail through the barrel markings, it is reasonable to assume the dovetail was added during the period of use of the rifle. The serial number "1975" is stamped on top of barrel, forward of the receiver. The matching number "1975" is also on the lower left of receiver tang, inside the buttplate and inside the upper tang mortise of the buttstock. The buttplate screws and upper tang screws are all matching and are correctly numbered "75". Lower tang screw is an incorrect, later replacement. Muzzle collar screw for the loading gate is missing and is replaced with a copper rivet, preventing removal to check for mating numbers on those parts. The larger, apparently correct 2nd type cartridge follower tab is present. These start to appear in the 19XX range, so this may be one of the earliest guns with the new, larger tabs rather than the earlier, smaller one. Frame with correct cut out for the larger tab.

This is an attractive, if well used Henry Rifle with some minor replaced parts, but one that was certainly around for the major actions of the Civil War. Based upon Wiley Swords' serial number and production estimates, the rifle was likely made in March or April of 1863. The rifle falls within the range of the 60 Henry Rifles purchased privately from sales agent John W Brown on October 26, 1863 to arm Company D of the 1st DC Cavalry, and those open market rifle acquisitions were not martially marked or inspected. Those guns are in the #1,300-#3,000 range. Further evidence of possible Civil War use are that Henry Rifles #1935, #1939 and #1954 were later reissued to the 3rd Veteran Volunteers Regiment in 1865, suggesting they were part of that 60 gun purchase. Henry Rifle serial number records for those issued to the Veteran Volunteers are far from complete. Henry Rifle #1950 was captured from Confederate Lt. Col. George A. Martin of the 38th Virginia Infantry and Henry Rifle #1978 is an inscribed presentation gun to Captain J.H. Burton of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Company H by Oliver Winchester, given on October 23, 1863. All these guns, very close in number to this one, which indicates this rifle is in a prime serial number range to have seen Civil War use. {ANTIQUE}

Good. Bore fair to good, heavily oxidized and moderately pitted with visible rifling. Metal with a thick brown patina and scattered patches of surface roughness and some lightly scattered minor pitting. Markings in the metal remain clear and crisp, except where they were removed by cutting the new rear sight dovetail. The original rear sight barrel dovetail cut was filled a long time ago, possibly during the period of use. The frame rear sight dovetail is filled as well and the filling almost certainly dates to the period of use. Brass with a thick, dark and untouched mustard patina. Side plates with some minor pry marks along the edges. Cartridge lifter and frame belly with scattered impact marks. Action is mechanically functional, as is the magazine spring, follower and loading gate mechanism. Rear sight is a later, incorrect replacement. Front sight blade is an old replacement. Loading gate stop screw and lower tang screws are replaced. Wood with scattered bumps, dings and mars from years of carry and use with numerous scuffs and scratches as well. A somewhat salty Henry that certainly has a real "been there, done that" look that probably has some interesting stories to tell.