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Historical John Comstock New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Historical John Comstock New Haven Arms Company Henry Rifle
Late production Henry Lever Action Rifle with coin-decorated stock. Documents with the rifle indicate that it was originally owned by John N. Comstock of Boscobel, Wisconsin, and was purchased from his heirs in the 1970s. The documentation with this rifle consists of numerous letters and articles. (We also have his outstanding inscribed gold/silver Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe in this auction)! The rifle has a blued barrel, brass receiver and second style buttplate and varnished walnut stock. The barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade and a folding leaf sight with 900 yard center notch. A factory fitted sling loop is screwed to the left side of the barrel and a factory sling swivel is inlaid in the left side of the stock. The butt trap contains a late pattern, four-piece, jointed steel cleaning rod. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "HENRY'S PATENT.OCT.16.1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEW HAVEN ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CT." in two lines in the second style format. The serial number: "9650." is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The receiver is also stamped on the lower left side of the receiver tang, in the upper stock inlet and on the inside of the buttplate. The late style buttplate screws are correctly not stamped with the rifle serial number. An "H" factory inspection mark is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch. The stock is decorated with an 1876 date dime inlaid and tacked on either side of the wrist and an 1876-dated quarter inlaid and tacked on either side of the lower portion of the butt.
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 Henry
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 9650
Condition: Very fine. The barrel has 40% original blue with the balance a smooth, plum brown patina with most of the original blue finish concentrated in protected areas. The barrel legend and serial number are crisp. The rear sight and sling loop screws have traces of the original blue finish. The receiver is in excellent condition. The brass has not been polished and has a very attractive aged patina. The side plate joints are perfect. Wear is limited to some very minor handling marks. The upper receiver tang has an additional hole for a tang sight. The trigger has a blue gray patina. The hammer and loading lever have 90% or more of the dove-gray case colors. The buttplate has the same patina and lack of handling wear as the receiver. The stock is also in very fine condition with most of the original varnish finish and some scattered handling wear. The silver coins are expertly mounted in the stock and add character to a very fine Henry Rifle.