The 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry purchased more than 500 rifles at a cost of $52.50 each, and the 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry purchased more than 220 rifles. Since the average Union soldier was paid just $13.00 per month, seeing an entire unit armed with Henry rifles was exceptionally rare, though it did happen. ![]() Because they were significantly more expensive than their muzzleloading counterparts, fewer than 2,000 of the total production run of 14,000 rifles were purchased by the United States Government. In 1862, a standard Henry rifle cost $42.00. Hand engraved and plated in gold or silver, they were fitted with fancy wood stocks made of black walnut, rosewood, or a premium selection of American walnut. ![]() ![]() Inventor Benjamin Tyler Henry spared no expense on the rifles he presented to the four men listed above. Stanton received the coveted serial number 1.) (Interestingly, Lincoln and Welles received serial numbers 6 and 9, respectively. Oftentimes, they were often reserved for important people: President Abraham Lincoln, Secretaries of War Simon Cameron and Edwin Stanton, and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles were all presented Henry rifles. Not surprisingly, this makes them hard to come by. ![]() Original, engraved Henry Model 1860 rifles are examples of exquisite craftsmanship.
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