Henry Henry's

[Ben Nevlezer]

I see that Henry Repeating Arms Company is now making an iron frame version of the 1860 model Henry. The approved arms list only includes the brass frame model made by Henry. Are there any plans to include the iron frame model and are there any reasons that it shouldn't be approved and added to the SAC list?

[John Holland]

Ben - The Iron Frame Henry Rifle, as made by the current Henry Arms Company, has not been submitted to the N-SSA for a "Production Approval". The Small Arms Committee will have to actually have one in their hands to determine if the Iron Frame version has had any changes made to it in regards to their Brass Frame version. There is a plan in place to examine one of the Iron Frame versions. However, the current Covid Pandemic situation has complicated things, and because of that everything has been put on hold until further notice.

[Ben Nevlezer]

Thanks John! That's kinda the answer I was expecting. Even though it hasn't officially been approved yet does anyone know if there are any differences and if it is expected to be approved?

[Maillemaker]

I don't know much about historical Henry's...I knew they were historically in brass - were they also in iron?

Steve

[Bruce Cobb 1723V]

You will also see them on our approved list.

[Ron The Old Reb]

Ok since the issue of Hennery rifles has been brought up. I have a question I would like an answer to. In all the books that I have on guns and all the research that I have done The Iron frame Hennery was from what I can find was a civilian model. I can not find where the government ever bought any of them and issue them to the troops. Second Uberti makes a case harden frame model I can not fine where Hennery ever made a case harden frame model is this something that Uberti came up with on there owned. So if the iron frame was a civilian model and the case harden frame was never made why where they approved for NSSA use? This is a question that John Holland can probably answer.:confused:

[John Holland]

Ron - The Iron Frame Henry Rifle is an early version. As I understand it, the frames were lightly case hardened. Case hardening in those days was for literally making the frames a bit more tough, and it was mostly a dull gray color. They were not decoratively "Case Colored" like what you see today. Yes, it is a "Civilian" model, because it was not offered in a military version at that time. I was not a member of the Small Arms Committee at the time it was approved for use in the N-SSA's competitive matches. I could probably take a guess as to why it was approved, but that is all it would be and I do not feel that would be appropriate.

[Ron The Old Reb]

Thanks John
I asked that question to a number of members over the years that I was a skirmisher but no one could give me an answer. I think I know but I'm like you it would only be a guess.

[Ben Nevlezer]

The way I understand it, only around 400 original Henry's were produced with an iron frame.

[Ron The Old Reb]

I think I read somewhere that there is only 167 know to still exist.