

41 caliber pistol came with either a 6 or 8 inch barrel holding 8 or 10 shots. 31 caliber were made in either 4 or 6 inch barrels holding 6 or 10 shots respectively. Brass was easier to work with as well as not rusting as iron would. The frame of the Volcanic rifles were made of brass. Muzzle energy was not impressive, at only 56 foot pounds of energy.(32) This ammunition was a grossly underpowered round and was made in either. A priming cap held the powder in place and provided ignition. These weapons used the "Rocket-ball" cartridge that consisted of a bullet with a hollow cavity in the base which contained the powder charge. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company began producing rifles and pistols in early 1856. Several have helped supply several bits and pieces of information I have used. I would like to thank all who have helped me in this venture. The following is a compilation designed to both educate and interest the reader on a weapon that very little has been written.

It really brings to life what rapid fire must have been like during the Civil War. It is quite impressive to see 15 or more Henrys in action. This group consists of about 75 re-enactors scattered throughout the United States.

The largest Civil War group using the Henry is The National Henry Rifle Company. Two groups of enthusiasts today that use the New Henry are Civil War re-enactors and those interested in the Cowboy style shoots. 44 Henry ballistics may be duplicated by reloading.
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Although these are reproductions, they look and handle like the originals. These are manufactured by Aldo Uberti of Italy and imported into the United States by Navy Arms and others. Those of us that want to shoot a Henry will have to settle for the outstanding reproduction Henrys. There has not been ammunition produced for years and what can be found is also highly collectable and too expensive to shoot. These start at around $6,000 and go up from there. Today original Henrys are collectors’ items commanding high prices. It was a 216 grain bullet and 26 to 28 grains of black powder. The ammunition remained the same throughout production. The barrel length was standard at 24 inches but some examples may be found with shorter barrels. The sights were mounted on the frame or the barrel. There was an iron frame Henry but most Henrys were brass frame. The butt plate was changed slightly and some guns do not have a lever latch. The Henry underwent very few changes during its production. In fact there is one hill located at the Little Bighorn that is known as Henry Hill because of the large number of Henry casings that were discovered there. The Henry was used by ranchers and soldiers as well as Indians. It was not replaced until those using Henrys could replace them with a more modern weapon. The Henry rifle made a name for itself on the American frontier of the 1860's to1880's. However the United States government did not adopt a repeating rifle until the Model 1892 Krag. The Henry rifle was the first of the truly rapid fire small arms that was practical. The soldiers developed confidence when using their Henrys that did not exist with a muzzle loader. It was used from the very beginning to the bitter end of the Civil War. The Henry played an important role during the Civil War, mainly in the western theater. The use of the Henry begins in the Civil War. This is getting a little ahead of our story. The Model 1866 also had a wooden forearm stock to protect against burns during prolong shooting. It loaded by means of a loading gate in the right side of the receiver. The Model 1866 included a redesigned magazine that was not opened to dirt. This rifle was nothing more than an improved Henry using the same ammunition. The first of the Winchesters was the Model 1866. It was the first successful repeating rifle that evolved into some of the best lever action rifles in the world, the Winchesters. The Henry rifle story is a very interesting story. The Henry Repeating Rifle Article by Andrew L.
