Navy Arms Ridgefield Gold Boy Questions.

[kkswim]

Hello everybody!


My Grandpa sadly passed away and while going through his gun cabinet I found a navy arms henry rifle. 44-40 lever action. It is in mint condition and has not been fired. It is engraved in gold. I looked for visual markings or stamps to help me identify exactly what it is but cannot find anything!

The only markings I found were stamped on the barrel- Navy Arms Ridgefield NJ.

And under the sight- E35

Is E35 the serial number?

Sorry for so many questions! Just trying to figure out exactly what we got here!

Thanks so much!

Ken

[Major 2]

Does you Barrel Marking look like this ?

What I believe you have is an American made Henry rifle first produced by Val Forgett, president and founder of Navy Arms, before production was moved to Uberti in Italy.
Navy Arms produced a limited edition of 50 Henry rifles marked .44 RF. (Rimfire). Another 500 Henry rifles and 1000 Henry carbines with a 22 inch barrel chambered in 44/40 .
I own one of the 22 inch carbines in 44/40 made 1979.

[kkswim]

Thats exactly what it looks like.

And under the Sight is E35.

So what are one of these guns worth on the market? Hate to have to sell it but funeral prices are a bit ridiculous :/

[Major 2]

It's a little hard to say....

I saw one some time back that did not sell and asking was $1500 which I though was fair priced.
Yours is desirable, being engraved & un-fired makes it more so....

A NIB Uberti runs $1050 to $1650 engraved maybe higher...

A Henry Repeating Arms newly introduced in 2013 and USA made ....in the $1950 range (if you can find one) or $2300 MSRP.

[kkswim]

Thank you so much! Are there any databases where we can look up the serial number?

And where else on the gun would  I be able to find the serial number?

Before I do sell I just want to be able to know everything about the gun incase people have questions!

Thanks again!!

[Seth Hawkins]

Does you Barrel Marking look like this ?

What I believe you have is an American made Henry rifle first produced by Val Forgett, president and founder of Navy Arms, before production was moved to Uberti in Italy.
Navy Arms produced a limited edition of 50 Henry rifles marked .44 RF. (Rimfire). Another 500 Henry rifles and 1000 Henry carbines with a 22 inch barrel chambered in 44/40 .
I own one of the 22 inch carbines in 44/40 made 1979.

I have one of these 22" 44 WCF carbines.  It's the engraved gun I shoot in CAS.  Was 1979 the only year those were made?

[Major 2]

I believe 1977 was the first year, they then sold out of the RF and the 44/40 Rifle.  In March of 1979 all that were still available were the  44/40 22 inch. Carbine as it was called
That's when I got mine, it sold for about $350.

There are differences between the Ridgefield NJ guns & the Gardone made guns...
There are two screws through the side plates (one just below the Hammer) on the NJ guns, that screw is not found on the Uberti.
The Trigger is also a different design, the carriers are not interchangeable and the US gun has no safety on the magazine
It can just twist open and pinch damage the magazine spring, guess how I know !

In the upper photo
the Navy Arms Ridgefield Henry (1979)
2nd Photo is :
Top ... HRA H011 made in Bayonne NJ  (2013)
   and  Uberti made... Gardone, Italy  (1999)

[major]

KKswim
You might have trouble selling this gun because from what others have said Uberti parts might not fit.  It is important when buying an old gun like this that replacement parts are available.  Just my 2 cents.

[Seth Hawkins]

Mine doesn't have the screw thru the side plate below the hammer.

The top flat of my barrel does say Navy Arms, Ridgefield, NJ.

[Major 2]

Chances are then it's a Uberti,  Val Forgett had a great relationship with Aldo
I have one, that like yours no screw and 22 inch barrel only mark ....Allen Arms Santa Fe NM  

[Blair]

kkswim,

I had forgotten about the mid to late 1970's reproductions of the Henry's.
They were all made by Uberti, just assembled and finished by Navy Arms.

Two things you made need to check out.
1. Is the gun rim fire or center fire?
2. Is the barrel length, 22" or 24 1/4 inches. (24 and 1/4 inch bbl. in the rim fire cartridge are highly desirable in these repro's.)
Engraving and gold plating is a bounce for the price no matter the barrel length.
By 1981 to 1982, the basic, suggested retail for Henry in 44-40 center fire Rifle (24 and 1/4 inch bbl.) was about $550.00. You should be able to double that by todays market price. (at a minimum)
I hope this information helps you.
My best,
Blair  

[kkswim]

The barrel is 24.5 inches. Ill try and get some picture up in a little bit.

Thanks everyone for the information!!

[kkswim]

Heres a few pictures. Its stamped CGD on the bottom. Anyone know what that means?

[kkswim]

Anyone?

[major]

Most likely the initials of the engraver.

[Sean Thornton]

According to Val Forgett founder of Navy Arms they were made in the US.

[Major 2]

A rim fire version with 3 digit SS # and un-fired recently sold on Guns America for $1000.00
Non-engraved model though....

I'd think yours is a bit more desirable ...but in 44/40  perhaps to a shooter , then again there is the parts ? if you break something issue.

So a shooter, paying in that price range , might op for a NIB current run....

Personally, being it's Granddads gun and he valued it , I'd be inclined to keep it.   

[Major 2]

Most likely the initials of the engraver.

I'm inclined to agree 

[St. George]

When it comes to Italian replicas - 'Made in the US' and 'Assembled in the US' are pretty synonymous.

These were assembled and finished here.

Scouts Out!

[Major 2]

That is pretty much the same as Japanese cars & some motorcycles ( though I think Honda took the Goldwing back to Japan )
Both Korean cars sold here are made here , BMW & Mercedes also....