I had the opportunity to handle one of these for the first time yesterday, a model H009GCC with casehardened receiver and octagon barrel. My overall impression was that by present day standards, the workmanship was impeccable (albeit on the particular example I examined, the casehardening was not so attractive as the attached stock photo would suggest). What I really didn't like about it was the weight. The specifications have it at 8½ pounds, but it really feels a lot heavier, to a point that I couldn't imagine walking around very much with such a boat anchor, so I gave it a pass.
Henry .30-30
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..I just posted in another post, the workmanship of these old firearms, etc is amazing considering they did not have computers, etc....I've worked with engineers that use software specifically designed for engineering, and they still screw simple things up
I have one in 357 and while it is heavy, it’s really fun at the range! But I have thought about taking it deer hunting a time or two also.
margethatcher
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Is it actually case hardening, or is it the quick to wear cyanide type treatment like some of the old Harrington and Richardson single shot shotguns and rifles?
These Henry's are new manufactured rifles, Henry Repeating Arms Co.
Paul in Nevada
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For me an octagonal barrel would be for show or the range only, not a walking around rifle. You hear a lot of good things about Henry these days. Ruger is rebooting Marlin so maybe one of those would suit as well. Poor Marlin gained a bad reputation when they were owned by Remington/Vista.
You can have an octagon barrel and still have a lighter, less muzzle heavy rifle if the octagon barrel has some good taper to it.
The Marlin Cowboys never felt heavy to carry around or muzzle heavy since their octagon barrels taper quite a bit, at the muzzle the barrel seems very thin.
In contrast, I once bought a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt that had a 26 inch octagon barrel.
No taper at all, the barrel at the muzzle was as fat as it was at the receiver.
Man that thing was heavy, and very muzzle heavy.
Wish I'd have handled it more before buying it. But it was cool looking and easy enough to get my money back when I sold it.
Maybe when I was young, I'd have not given a second thought about packing around a 8.5-9 lb. rifle. Today, at 65, I'm glad I have a few 5 3/4 - 6.5 pound JM Marlins.
From the pics here of the two Henry rifles, it doesn't look like the barrel has much taper.
Some of those casehardened Henrys are beautiful though, as is the wood on them.
Really nice rifle, KalamazooKid.
The Marlin Cowboys never felt heavy to carry around or muzzle heavy since their octagon barrels taper quite a bit, at the muzzle the barrel seems very thin.
In contrast, I once bought a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt that had a 26 inch octagon barrel.
No taper at all, the barrel at the muzzle was as fat as it was at the receiver.
Man that thing was heavy, and very muzzle heavy.
Wish I'd have handled it more before buying it. But it was cool looking and easy enough to get my money back when I sold it.
Maybe when I was young, I'd have not given a second thought about packing around a 8.5-9 lb. rifle. Today, at 65, I'm glad I have a few 5 3/4 - 6.5 pound JM Marlins.
From the pics here of the two Henry rifles, it doesn't look like the barrel has much taper.
Some of those casehardened Henrys are beautiful though, as is the wood on them.
Really nice rifle, KalamazooKid.
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I’ve never been a big fan of the Marlin rifles nor for the Henry derivatives because they are a bit chunkier than their Winchester counterparts. But it would be really difficult for it to actually be heavier than 8.5 pounds.
For comparison purposes below (top to bottom):
- A Model 94 20” carbine in .30-30 weighing 6 pounds 10 oz. The 20” Model 94 carbine is arguably the gold standard for a handy woods gun. It balances with the hand under the receiver.
- A Model 94 LF 24” rifle with a rapid taper round barrel in .38-55 weighing 6 pounds 13 oz. It is impressive in terms of having 4” more barrel and only 3 oz more weight. Part of that is the larger bore diameter but most of it is the rapid taper round barrel. It balances with the center of the hand aligned with the front of the lever link.
- A Model 94 26” round barrel rifle in .30-30 weighing 7 pounds 14 oz. It’s a full pound heavier, and balances with the hand on the rear section of the fore arm. However, the balance is superb for off hand shooting and it swings extremely smoothly on moving targets.
- An Uberti Model 1894 26” octagon barrel rifle in .38-55 weighing 8 pounds 2 oz. Uberti’s barrel dimensions are spot on with Winchester specs and the only significant deviation I have found has been the slightly larger lever loop. It also balances extremely well.
So from that perspective, it’s a weight versus balance issue, with very little difference between the full size round and octagon barrels, and very little difference between the carbine and rapid taper round barrels.
For comparison purposes below (top to bottom):
- A Model 94 20” carbine in .30-30 weighing 6 pounds 10 oz. The 20” Model 94 carbine is arguably the gold standard for a handy woods gun. It balances with the hand under the receiver.
- A Model 94 LF 24” rifle with a rapid taper round barrel in .38-55 weighing 6 pounds 13 oz. It is impressive in terms of having 4” more barrel and only 3 oz more weight. Part of that is the larger bore diameter but most of it is the rapid taper round barrel. It balances with the center of the hand aligned with the front of the lever link.
- A Model 94 26” round barrel rifle in .30-30 weighing 7 pounds 14 oz. It’s a full pound heavier, and balances with the hand on the rear section of the fore arm. However, the balance is superb for off hand shooting and it swings extremely smoothly on moving targets.
- An Uberti Model 1894 26” octagon barrel rifle in .38-55 weighing 8 pounds 2 oz. Uberti’s barrel dimensions are spot on with Winchester specs and the only significant deviation I have found has been the slightly larger lever loop. It also balances extremely well.
So from that perspective, it’s a weight versus balance issue, with very little difference between the full size round and octagon barrels, and very little difference between the carbine and rapid taper round barrels.
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BrovoEchoSierra
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I an glad to see Henry is making something to bridge the gap left my Marlin and Winchester.
While I have never owned one of their products, I admire their guns, and would not hesitate to buy one.
The trouble is I have all the lever guns that I need...... I think?
While I have never owned one of their products, I admire their guns, and would not hesitate to buy one.
The trouble is I have all the lever guns that I need...... I think?
Valmet
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A friend of mine has one and used it in the deer woods this year and while it seems well built, it just wasn’t for me. I’ll cling to my Marlin 336
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