Henry Model 1860
New Haven Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1860
Also known as: Henry Rifle, Model 1860 Henry, Henry Repeating Rifle
Overview
The Henry Model 1860 is a lever-action repeating rifle chambered in .44 Henry rimfire, designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry and manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company. One of the first practical repeating rifles, it fed from a 15-round tubular magazine beneath the barrel and could be fired rapidly by working the underlever, giving Union troops who privately purchased it during the American Civil War a dramatic firepower advantage over single-shot muzzleloaders. Its brass receiver and distinctive open-slot magazine made it instantly recognizable, and it was the direct ancestor of the Winchester Model 1866.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4200 g (148.2 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 343 m/s (1125 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 770 J (568 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 91 m (100 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 28 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Henry · primary — also known as .44 Rimfire, .44 Henry Flat, .44 Long Rimfire, 11x23R
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Tubular Magazine, Brass Receiver, Flip Up Rear Sight, No Forend
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1862
- Union Army volunteer regiments · adopted 1862
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- American Indian Wars (1865-1890)
Production
Estimated total produced: 14,000 · Production years: 1860-1866
Approximately 14,000 rifles produced; output peaked at around 290 per month by 1864.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Benjamin Tyler Henry
Discontinued: 1866
Notes
Confederate soldiers reportedly called it 'that damned Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week.' Early examples used iron frames before production shifted to the iconic brass receiver. The design was refined into the Winchester Model 1866 after Oliver Winchester reorganized the New Haven Arms Company into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
Background
Benjamin Tyler Henry spent roughly three years perfecting the design before patenting it in 1860. At about $50 the rifle cost far more than the $14 Springfield 1861 musket, so the U.S. Ordnance Department never adopted it in quantity; most Henrys reached the front in the hands of soldiers who bought them with their own pay.