1860 Henry Rifles Designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry, the Henry Rifle was considered one of the most advanced weapons of its day. The toggle-link action was nearly identical to that used in the Smith & Wesson volcanic pistols and the Volcanics manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. However both of these firearms fired an inefficient self-contained projectile. After Oliver F. Winchester obtained the patent rights to the Volcanic, he founded the New Haven Arms Company and manufactured the Henry rifle which employed the.44 Henry rimfire cartridge created by B.
Both the rifle and its ammunition were superior in every respect to the Volcanic firearms. First Model Henrys were made with iron frames (s/n 1 to 400 range,) and brass frames (s/n 1 to 5,300 range, overlapping with iron frames) both with rounded buttplates. Second Models were exclusively brass frame with pointed buttplates (s/n 5300 – 14900 range). Henry rifles had 24” barrels with a magazine capacity of 16 rounds, with a few shorter length Henry carbines known to exist. The serial number of Henry rifles are found on the top flat of the barrel, on the left side of the lower tang under the stock, on the stock under the upper tang, and on the inside of the buttplate. On early rifles, the tang and buttplate screws also are serial numbered.
Matching assembly numbers, in small numerals, are found on the barrel under the loading sleeve and on the rear face of the loading sleeve. Some First Models were purchased by the U.S. Army and bear the “C.G.C.” mark. This was the stamp of Charles G. Chapman, indicating he had inspected and accepted this gun for the Ordinance Department of the U.S. Some Second Models bare the “AWM” and “JT” government inspection markings on the left side of the stock, on the wrist near the receiver.
From records in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., it is known that rifles in the serial range from 1392 to 3956 were in the Ordinance Department order for Henrys, dated December 30, 18 63. Many rifles in this serial range are recorded as issued to the First D. Cavalry and after use with this unit were turned back in to the ordinance department. These rifles were then re-issued to the Third U.S. Veterans Volunteers, where they saw duty until the end of the war.
One of the incentives for reenlisting in the Veteran Volunteers was a cash “bounty” as well as the agreement that the veterans would be permitted to keep their guns and accessories. Because many of the veterans later went west, most of these rifles saw duty in the frontier and in the Indian wars. Few of these martial guns remain in good condition; war duty and later service in the West and other wear resulted in much hard use and abuse. Sought after due to its rapidity of fire, most Henrys used during the Civil War were purchased by Union soldiers with their own money.
The largest privately funded Henry regiment was the 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, armed with over 500 Henrys purchased at $52.50 each–almost 4 months pay for a Civil War solider. Despite the obvious superiority of the repeating rifle over muzzle loaders of the day, it was well after the Civil War before the US Government accepted the repeaters, changing warfare forever and making the muzzle loader obsolete for future wars. That damned Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week!
I have a question about the production date of the Henry rifle. Wiley Sword in his book, 'The Historic Henry Rifle' wrote: Date Production Ser.#at the end of month Apr.-May-June1862 300 300 July 1862 125 425 Aug.1862 125 550 Sept 1862 150 700 Oct.1862 200 900 Nov.1862 200 1100 Dec.1862 200 1300 Jan.1863 200 1500 and so on. Bresnan, M.S. The National Henry Rifle Company, wrote in his article 'The Henry Repeating Rifle': The following is a production list of when the Henrys were produced.
This list accounts for serial numbers 1 through 14,094. 1860 1 270 1861 271 300 1862 301 1300 1863 1301 4000 1864 4001 8000 1865 8001 12,000 1866 12,001 14,094 The difference in the years 1860-1862 confuses me a little bit. So, who is right and who is wrong? Swords book leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to production information. The problem is, it's the only reference available. This may soon change however.
If you look at the photos in Swords book, you'll see that most of the original guns and gear are from the Les Quick collection. Les has been collecting Henry's for 30 plus years and his knowledge of these guns is vast. For the past 10 years, he has been gathering production data as well as historical information on every Henry he could find.
I just found out at the Vegas show, that he has completed his book and it should be ready within the next few months. I think this will be a very good reference on the Henry Rifle. Adios, Buck Logged. I just got off the phone with Les and he tells me the book is at the printers and it is his hope is to have it ready by mid April. If everything is on schedule, it will first appear at the Colorado Gun Collectors show in Denver, the middle of May.
The book is full color, hard bound. Two versions will be printed. Standard cloth bound with dust jacket at $100 and leather bound, signed and numbered limited edition at $200. There will be only 100 limited editions available. Hope this will help. Adios, Buck Logged Henry4440.
The Henry Repeating Rifle Victory thru rapid fire Andrew L. Bresnan, M.S. The National Henry Rifle Company Chapter 7: The 'Modern Henry' The Henry is a very unique rifle and a rare one. Only a little over 14,000 were produced. These are expensive collector's items that most people would not shoot even if there were ammunition available. Still it would be neat to go back to the 1860's and 1870's when the Henry was the 'King' of the repeating rifles. A big thanks goes to Aldo Uberti of Brescia, Italy in connection with Navy Arms Company, Dixie Gun Works, Allen Arms, EMF, and others that have helped make available a faithful copy of the original Henry.
The first of the 'Modern Henrys' was introduced in the late 1970's when Navy Arms offered a Henry rifle for sale. These were a limited run of 500 Henrys offered at a price of $500. They are chambered for the famous.44-40 center-fire cartridge. Following up this limited run of Henry rifles was another limited run of 1,000 Henry carbines with a 21 inch barrel. These were also offered at $500 and chambered for the.44-40.
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They also advertised a reproduction Henry rifle chambered for the.44 Henry rim-fire cartridge. One of these rim-fire Henrys is located at the Perryville, Kentucky Battlefield Museum.
These limited production Henrys sparked a new interest in the Henry and a high demand. These first two Henrys are different than the reproduction Henrys of today.
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One big difference is that there are two screws that hold the side plates on instead of one, like they are made today and as were the originals. Through the 1980's several companies have imported several different variations of the Henry. There is a military version of the Henry. It has the sling swivels and the door in the butt of the gun. The Henry carbine is still offered with its 21 inch barrel and there is also a 'Trapper' version with a 16 inch barrel. Neither one of these have the sling swivels, but they could be added if the owner chose to do so.
There is a steel frame Henry offered by Navy Arms Co. It is offered in blue or case-hardened finish on the receiver. These 'Modern Henrys' are not cheap. The current retail is priced around $900.
I have shot several of the 'Modern Henrys' and they shoot fairly well for the type of gun they are. The 24 inch barrel version have the same problem as during the Civil War, they just do not balance quite right. These rifles weigh in at almost 9 pounds. The magazine capacity is 13 rounds, if you put one in the chamber the Henry becomes a '14 Shooter.' The.44-40 is a little longer round than the original.44 Henry, so you end up with 2 fewer rounds. The 'Modern Henrys' have a walnut stock.
These vary on the several I have seen to a very attractive well finished stock to a plain grain stock. The rear sight is a copy of the original adjustable sight. The front sight is a German silver blade as on the original. In the accuracy department the 'Modern Henry' does a good job when kept to a realistic range of the.44-40 cartridge. At 50 yards with the 200 grain factory load it will shoot 2 inch groups or less. My shooting at 100 yards opened the groups from the smallest of 3 and a half inches to the largest of 8 and a quarter inches.
At 200 yards the.44-40 cartridge drops off almost 30 inches. I did fire at water filled milk jugs at 200 meters. It took the first 6 shots to walk the bullets to the jugs. It seems that it took the bullet forever to travel that distance.
I also loaded some.44-40 rounds with 28 grains of black powder to try to duplicate the original Henry load. My groups at 50 yards opened up to almost 5 inches. At 200 yards it was very difficult to hit the target.
Today the 'Cowboy' shooting events are becoming popular. The Henry has found a romantic place in the hearts of these shooters. The World Series of these shoots is the 'End of the trail' competition in California. One problem encountered by Henry shooters is they forget to move their hand out of the way so the magazine follower can push the cartridges down, but they soon get used to it. A hobby that has been spreading throughout the United States is that of Civil War Re-enacting. They are modern day Civil War soldiers of the Blue and Gray that relive the 1860's. Uniforms, equipment, camp life and weapons are to be as authentic as possible.
Henry Repeating Arms Serial Number Lookup
Of course one of these weapons is the Henry Repeating Rifle. Henrys are not encountered very much at re-enactments. The main reason for this is the expensive price tag they carry. There is one nationally organized group of Henry re-enactors, The National Henry Rifle Company.
This group is made up of about 75 Henry enthusiasts in 16 states. Of these there are 33 active members that take part in re-enacting. This group was founded in 1989 after the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, TN by Andrew L. Bresnan with the help of many others. The reaction of the Confederate re-enactors who come in contact with the Henry Company for the first time must be the same reaction that the Confederates had in the Civil War.
In re-enacting, instead of live ammunition, blanks are used. The Henrys shoot the 5-in-1 blanks that have been used by the movie industry for years. The movie studios have caught the Henry fever. Let's face it the Henry is a flashy looking gun with it's brass frame. A few shows to use Henrys are 'Bordertown', 'Young Riders', 'Silverado', 'Sacred Ground', 'Dances With Wolves' and many more. One interesting thing that comes to mind when I have watched these fine films is that those shooting the Henrys act as if they are firing a Sharps Buffalo gun. The.44-40 does not have that much recoil.
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I guess it looks good on screen. Another use of the 'Modern Henry' is in the hunting fields.
The.44-40 over the years has taken thousands of deer and other wild game. The 'Modern Henry' would fit right in as a short range deer gun. Hunting with a Henry seems to put you in a different time zone where you can forget the problems of the present, at least for a little while.
Henry Repeating Arms Serial Number Lookup
It's nice to know that we can escape to the past to a simpler time. The Henry can do that for the hunter. The following is a list of regiments that were armed with Henry repeating rifles, at least in part: 7th Illinois Infantry 11th Illinois Infantry 16th Illinois Infantry 23rd Illinois Infantry 39th Illinois Infantry 51st Illinois Infantry 64th Illinois Infantry 66th Illinois Infantry 68th Illinois Infantry 73rd Illinois Infantry 80th Illinois Infantry 85th Illinois Infantry 86 Illinois Infantry 96th Illinois Infantry 100th Illinois Infantry 105th Illinois Infantry 115th Illinois Infantry 58th Indiana Infantry 59th Indiana Infantry 93rd Indiana Infantry 97th Indiana Infantry 1st D.C. Cavalry 12th Kentucky Cavalry Col.
Netter's Cavalry 1st Maine Cavalry 9th New York Cavalry 29th New York Infantry 2nd Wisconsin mounted Infantry 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry 66th Wisconsin Infantry 1st Missouri Engineers 4th Missouri Cavalry 25th Missouri Cavalry 47th Missouri Cavalry 3rd Regiment U.S.V. 7th West Virginia Infantry 10th Michigan Cavalry 31st Pennsylvania Infantry The following U.S.
Navy vessels also had Henrys: USS Cricket Gunboat Pittsburgh Tennessee North Carolina USS Black Hawk Essex Varuna Great Western Henrys were used in part by the following Confederate regiments: 1st Arkansas Cavalry Jeff Davis' Bodyguards 7th Virginia Cavalry 11th Virginia Cavalry 12th Virginia Cavalry 35th Virginia Cavalry 21st Virginia Cavalry Laurel Brigade 8th Texas Cavalry 5th Texas Cavalry 29th Texas Cavalry 10th Kentucky Partisan Rgr. Jesse McNeill's Rangers Camp Ferguson's Guerrillas General S.G. French This list of units is an incomplete list as it is next to impossible to account for every Henry used in the Civil War.
(1,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15,22,36) The following is a production list of when the Henrys were produced. This list accounts for serial numbers 1 through 14,094. (20) 1860 1 270 1861 271 300 1862 301 1300 1863 1301 4000 1864 4001 8000 1865 8001 12,000 1866 12,001 14,094 Listed here are some known iron frame serial number Henrys, Serial numbers: 12, 13, 31, 45, 49, 57, 89, 103, 108, 110, 119, 125, 138, 147, 156, 161, 270, 279, 287, 355.
The following is a listing of battles in which Henrys were used at least in part or where units that had Henrys were present during the Civil War: Ft. Corinth, Miss. Sterling, KY Blount's Farm Chickamauga Henderson, KY Clarksville,TN Chattanooga, TN Skirmishing with John Hunt Morgan Medley, W.