A number of the early Winchester, Marlin, and other lever-action rifles held 10 to 15 rounds for full length magazine. The Henry rifle was used by the Union Army during the Civil War, and it's firepower inspired the Southrons to refer to it as "that damn Yankee rifle that could be loaded on Sunday and fired all week." The rounds would be considered pistol rounds today (the .44-40 is very similar in size to .44 magnum ~~~ but Waaaay different in power!!!!!) and it took awhile to get a lever gun designed to use a true rifle caliber round suitable for buffalo and other large game.
Pretty sure Tommygunn is correct on it being the 1860 Henry that was referred to as loading Sunday and firing all week. Do you have any links? Cause man, I dont think I've ever heard that said referring to the Spencer.That was the Spencer Rifle. It was used in much greater numbers than the Henry, though I can't say why.
Pretty sure Tommygunn is correct on it being the 1860 Henry that was referred to as loading Sunday and firing all week. Do you have any links? Cause man, I dont think I've ever heard that said referring to the Spencer.
From Wikipedia (for whatever that's worth): Confederate Colonel John Mosby, who became infamous for his sudden raids against advanced Union positions, when first encountering the Henry in battle called it "that damned Yankee rifle that can be loaded on Sunday and fired all week." Since then that phrase became associated with the Henry rifle.
Maybe I'm misreading your post though.
If the term was coined by one man, couldn't that man have witnessed a Henry? Then it was blanketed across to Spencers? I'm not trying to argue as I do see your logic.It was the Spencer rifle which was widely used by the Union Army (48,000 made), unlike the Henry of which only 14,000 in total were ever made and which was only used by a small number of Union units. As DJ notes above, the Henry only began production in 1862 and was never officially adopted by the Union Army, unlike the Spencer. It saw very limited use in Union service, whereas, for example Union General Wilson maneuvered 9,000 men armed with Spencers.
While the “load on Sunday and shoot all week” line has been ascribed to the Henry (probably by the unrelated modern Henry Arms), the sheer difference in numbers used and actual engagements with Confederates, the remark (if genuine) was about the Spencer.
If the term was coined by one man, couldn't that man have witnessed a Henry? Then it was blanketed across to Spencers? I'm not trying to argue as I do see your logic.
Makes sense. Sorry I derailed the thread OP. It's just strange to hear something isn't what it is after all these years.The unverified quote is attributed to several individuals as well as “a Confederate soldier”, so it’s veracity is questionable. The Henry was never officially adopted, the Spencer was. The Spencer saw repeated engagements in large numbers. The Henry did not. I can’t tell you what to believe.
Oh well, I went from being pretty certain it was the Henry that was the load sunday/shoot all week gun....to thinking , no, it WAS the Spencer....to changing my mind again. *Sigh.* The rifle that was not the "shoot all week" gun was known as "the horizontal shot tower."
Uh, you guys can chooses which is wich.
I'll chime in on this; Docrock is correct about one thing, the Spencer was officially adopted by the Union Army. Gen. George Armstrong Custer's "Red Tie Boys" were equipped with Spencer rifles, then with the carbine. I've seen a number of photos of Union soldiers with Henry rifles, but the Spencer was official even after the war up until about the early 1870s when the govt. took 'em back and gave the Cavalry Trapdoor carbines.
Is this just common knowledge in the Civil War community? Maybe the ones who study that war mirror your remarks. Cause like I say, it's a strange thing for me to hear this. Not trying to press this but it all seems to come down to speculation.Also, think about the magazine capacity of a Spencer in relation to the alleged Confederate remark: 7. As in " load on Sunday and shoot all week. "
Is this just common knowledge in the Civil War community? I assume the ones who study that war mirror your remarks. Cause like I say, it's a strange thing for me to hear this. Not trying to press this but it seems to come down to speculation.
Howdy
Confederate Colonel John Mosby, who became infamous for his sudden raids against advanced Union positions, when first encountering the Henry in battle called it "that damned Yankee rifle that can be loaded on Sunday and fired all week."
I have two different books about the original Henry rifle, they say it held 15 rounds in the magazine.
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