[westvirginia]

My (older) uncle was looking for some kind of big bore rifle in the Henry "Golden-Boy" genre. He said specifically the following:
[list=1]
Octagon barrel
Brass-covered receiver
No wood forearm
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I looked on Henry's website, but only saw two brass-receivered rifles, a .44 mag and the .22 rimfire. Is this rifle still made? I seem to remember seeing something of the sort in a gun rag a while back. He wants an oddball caliber, something like .44-40 probably, maybe .45-110.

Any help you guys can give would be appreciated.

[W.Va.Glassman]

:) Like your handle

[westvirginia]

Thanks, man. Was on TFL and followed over here. Never posted a bunch but always loved the info you can get. Originally from Nicholas County, Mt. Nebo to be exact.

[W.Va.Glassman]

Welcome, I'm from Huntington.

[Jim Watson]

The only rifle with a brass receiver - not brass covered, BRASS - and no foreend, is the true Henry, not the thing now being made in Brooklyn. It was the predecessor to the Winchester lever action rifles. The originals were made from 1860 to 1865 and take .44 Henry RIMFIRE, which has not been made for many years. They are very valuable collector and museum pieces.

Uberti (Italy, now owned by Beretta) makes a pretty close Henry reproduction in .44-40. They are fairly common and popular in Cowboy Action Shooting. Not cheap, prices around $800.

The .44-40 is not a real powerful round, only suitable for deer at very moderate ranges. The brass receiver of the Henry repro means you shouldn't soup it up by heavy handloads, either.

The .45-110 is a long - 2.6" case - cartridge for big single shots like Sharps. Not available in a repeater that I know of.

The modern Henry Big Boy is still available as far as I know. The .44 Magnum is considerably more powerful than .44-40 and the rifle a lot cheaper than a Uberti repro 1860.

[williamthedog]

my brand new henry 45 l.c. has a solid brass reciever.

[MilsurpShooter]

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/large/1860HenryRifleBrass2425.jpg

This would probably be the only way for you to really go about getting it in the configuration he's looking for. MSRP from Uberti has it at $1,329. Chambered in .44/40 or .45 Colt

I don't know how plausible it would be but perhaps buying one of the Henry Goldenboys and removing the front stock? Far as I know the only chambering for the Henry Big Boy rifles are .44 mag, .45 colt, and .357 magnum.

[DPris]

Part of the confusion may be in thinking that the current Henry company has anything whatever to do with the original Henry company. No connection at all, and the current Henries are not chambered in any of the period-correct older classic calibers of the older Henries.
The current Henries all use modern actions (much stronger than the originals) and modern calibers.
The current Henry Big Boys have solid brass-alloy frames, the rimfire Goldenboys do not.
I'm not aware of anybody makining a levergun in .45-110, that's a powerful long range (and just plain LONG!) cartridge.
Denis

[hksw]

He said specifically the following: Octagon barrel Brass-covered receiver No wood forearm

So meaning 1860 Henry? Like this from Cimarron?

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/Henry.htm

Does come in .45 LC. IIRC, it wasn't strong enough for the other larger cartridges.

Could go or an 1876 which is much stouter and able to handle the larger cartridges, but it doesn't come in brass.

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/1876Cent.htm#

[DPris]

You should be able to find current 1860 Henry replicas from Cimarron, Navy Arms, Dixie Gun Works, EMF, and other importers.
All are made by Uberti, all in centerfire handgun cartridge calibers. Finish will vary, frames will be either brass alloy (a version of "gunmetal") or steel, with the brass being far more common.
Non have "brass covered" frames.

Denis

[williamthedog]

hey guys,
i have the booklet that came with my big boy in my hand.
this is what it starts with.
we are proud to have crafted this rifle for you in the great tradition of Henry repeating arms company which dates back to 1860 when the first effective,lever action repeating rifle was developed by our founder,Benjamin Tyler henry.




that sounds like the same company to me.

[williamthedog]

oops sorry folks i found this.
i was wrong....
Their advertising notwithstanding, Henry Repeating Arms Company has no connection to B. Tyler Henry or New Haven Arms, the company that produced the Model 1860 Henry rifle. New Haven Arms was owned by Oliver Winchester, and in 1866 the company name was changed to Winchester Repeating Arms.