Merz Antique Firearms ~ Catalog of Old Guns and Related Items
Henry Rifles
The famous Henry Rifle is the predecessor to the Winchester line of rifles. It was produced by the New Haven Arms Company from approximately 1860 through 1866. While a few iron-frame examples were produced in the early days, the majority of Henry Rifles came with a distinctive brass frame. Other key features include a grooved magazine tube and a rotating barrel sleeve for loading the gun. As one of the first successful repeating rifles, the Henry Rifle became important during the Civil War. The factory could not keep up with government orders for more rifles, so ironically many Northern soldiers purchased their own Henry Rifle. These rifles were expensive and highly prized when they were new, and they have remained that way. Given the limited production, it is surprising how often we discover a Henry Rifle that has passed down through the original family. This goes to show how much reverence for history is embodied in the story of Henry Rifles. Henry Rifles are always interesting to a collector looking for the centerpiece of a gun collection.
FIRST MODEL HENRY RIFLE
Item # W621
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Cal 44 RF with original sights. VG markings. Original stock shows a fair amount of weathering. There is a few initials, some chips and mars but generally sound and solid. Correct early first model rounded buttplate. Brass has turned a very attractive pale yellow patina. Sharp corners. Nice functioning action. All original parts and all matching numbers. At sometime someone had moved the sight to the middle of the bbl address and put in a new dovetail. I have seen this a number of times on Henry rifles. Apparently the guys get older and their vision changes. All original except where noted.
 Antique $ 24,500.
IRON FRAME HENRY RIFLE
Item # W620
Cal 44 RF just under 200 serial range. All matching numbers guaranteed throughout including the wooden tang screws, upper tang screws and buttplate screws. All other parts match correctly. Original sights. Very nice bore. Original perch belly stock is in fine condition with a few mars and dings but most varnish is still in tact. Correct Henry style early rounded buttplate. Overall metal is plum/brown patina with traces of blue in protected areas. Sharp corners. Excellent functioning action. Good bbl markings. Correct sling swivels mounted on the bottom of stock and right hand side of bbl. Interesting and unique gun. On page 186 of Les Quick's Henry Rifle book there is a picture of a bayonet and mounting lug and is very similar to this gun. Guaranteed correct to be on the gun. There were two different kinds. The long one is pictured and this is the shorter one. It takes the same bayonet just a slightly different configuration where it mounts. The bayonet would be marked Bahn Frei Bayonet. I have only seen two or three Henry rifles with a bayonet attachment. The gun is guaranteed correct. Great condition for an Iron Frame. They only manufactured around 200 of these. They were manufactured concurrently with the brass frame. Only about less than 100 have been found so far. This one would land in the upper 10% of that class.
Antique $ 135,000.
MODEL 1860 HENRY RIFLE
Item # W602
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One of the finest in the country and for sure the finest I have encountered. Virtually 90%+ bright vivid bbl blue. Receiver is a beautiful butterscotch color. Sharp corners. All the screws are perfect lining front to back. Excellent bbl markings. Mint bore. Original perch belly stock in excellent+ condition with nearly all varnish. A few handling mars and dings. Used very little. Early first model in the 2400 serial range. Has all matching numbers except for one of the upper wood screws has no number. They discontinued numbering them in the 2000 serial range and this one falls right in there. Original sight on the back of the receiver. Dovetail in the back of the bbl. Correct front sight. This is truly an investment grade rifle. I had this gun a number of years ago and was more than happy to get it back.It will make someone an excellent investment.
Antique $ 155,000 sale pending.
FACTORY ENGRAVED HENRY RIFLE
Item # W225-20-223
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Cal 44 RF. Good bore. Fair markings. Overall metal shows a fair amount of wear on the bbl and is a light grey/brown patina coloration. It may have had some artificial color applied but it would have been a long time ago. The original wood is in VG+ condition with nice figure which a factory engraved gun should have. The early first model configuration to the buttplate. The engraving on the receiver is nicely done in typical Hoggson fashion with the deer jumping a fence. Scroll engraving on the other side. Receiver has turned a nice butterscotch mustard colored patina. The gun has a fair amount of wear on the receiver having been carried a fair amount. The high points are slightly worn. This is the way you want to see them if they have seen any use at all. Guaranteed all original with all matching numbers. Serial number 28XX. Factory engraved beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Antique $ 45,000 .
VERY SCARCE 12 INCH VOLCANIC PISTOL
Item # 9265-20-227
This is only the second 12" I have ever seen. The last one was probably 30 years ago. Overall metal is VG with a bluish-plum-brown coloration. Sharp corners. Original wood grips are in very nice cond as well showing a fair amount of use but no splits or cracks. Has provisions for a shoulder stock. Mechanical cond is VG+. Original sights. VG bore. Brass receiver has turned a pleasing butterscotch patina coloration. Nice clean and all original scarce Volcanic.
Antique $ 22,500.
FULL BOX OF 44 HENRY FLAT CARTRIDGES
Item # 8742-20-224
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Dark green Winchester label. On the end of the box it says "44 Flat Rim Fire Cartridges Winchester". The box is in excellent plus condition. Label is fine. Very scarce box of cartridges.
Antique $ 2,650 sale pending.
MARTIALLY MARKED CIVIL WAR HENRY IN THE 3,1XX SERIAL NUMBER RANGE
Item # 8554-20-219
![]() Overall gun is generally VG with a light bbl address, semi sharp corners, bbl shows signs of having possibly been cleaned at one time and is a gun metal gray brownish coloration. Orig brass receiver is generally VG with some rounding to the corners, possibly polished a long time ago and has since turned a darker brass patina coloration. Wood shows the usual scuff marks, dings and signs of minor abuse but is still sound and solid with no splits or cracks. Marked on the side of the receiver is 'C.C.' as well as the 'CGC' stamp on the bbl which is definitely guaranteed to be correct. Overall gun is generally a VG specimen of a hard to find martially marked Henry rifle. Less than 150 of these have surfaced to date. All correct with the exception of the buttplate; it's a correct Henry style but is not matching to the gun. A good looking gun.
Antique $ 31,000.
THE HENRY RIFLE
Item # 1B
By Les Quick. This hard cover 240 pg book is by far the best of its kind, thoroughly covering the Henry Rifle including great photos. Don't let the authors name mislead you, this book is Fast, Fast, Fast.
$ 100.
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