Henry Rifle Model 1860
New Haven Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1860
Also known as: Henry Repeating Rifle, Model 1860 Henry, Sixteen Shooter, that damned Yankee rifle
Overview
The Henry Rifle Model 1860 was a breech-loading, lever-action repeating rifle designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry and produced by the New Haven Arms Company between 1860 and 1866. Chambered in the newly developed .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, it carried fifteen rounds in a tubular magazine beneath its 24-inch octagonal barrel, plus one in the chamber, giving an unprecedented 16-shot capacity in an era dominated by single-shot muzzleloading muskets. A toggle-link action, exposed hammer, and open-top brass receiver defined its distinctive silhouette. Although never officially adopted in large numbers by the Union Army, approximately 1,731 rifles were purchased by the Ordnance Department between 1862 and 1865, and many more were bought privately by Union soldiers who prized the rifle's overwhelming firepower. The Henry directly inspired the Winchester Model 1866 after Oliver Winchester's New Haven Arms Company was reorganized into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, making it the foundational ancestor of one of the most iconic lines of rifles in American history.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4196 g (148.0 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 | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 343 m/s (1125 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 770 J (568 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 820 m (897 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 28 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Brass |
Calibers
- .44 Henry · primary — also known as .44 Henry Flat, .44 Rimfire, .44 Long Rimfire, 11x23R
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine, Octagonal Barrel, Brass Frame, Walnut Stock, Open Top Receiver, Exposed Hammer, Under Barrel Tube Loading
Variants
- Henry Rifle 1860 Iron Frame — Early Production
- Henry Rifle 1860 Brass Frame — Standard Production
Service history
Operators
- Union Army · adopted 1862
- 1st District of Columbia Cavalry · adopted 1863
- 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry · adopted 1863
- United States Ordnance Department · adopted 1862
- United States Civilian Market · adopted 1860
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- American Indian Wars (1865-1890)
Production
Estimated total produced: 14,000 · Production years: 1860-1866
Approximately 14,000 Henry rifles were produced by the New Haven Arms Company between 1860 and 1866. Early production (the first ~400 units) featured iron frames and is highly collectible; the majority had brass frames. New Haven Arms was reorganized as Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866, and the design evolved into the Winchester Model 1866.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Benjamin Tyler Henry
Discontinued: 1866
Notes
Approximately 14,000 rifles were produced between 1860 and 1866, though figures of 13,500 are also commonly cited. The earliest rifles (roughly the first 400) featured iron frames; the vast majority of production had brass frames. The rifle cost approximately $47 at a time when a muzzleloader cost about $16, making it expensive for both government and private purchase. A known weakness was the open-slot tubular magazine, which could become fouled by dirt or distort if dropped. The Henry had no wooden forend; the shooter gripped the magazine tube itself, which could become hot in rapid fire. The successor Winchester 1866 'Yellow Boy' added a King's patent loading gate and a wooden forend to address these shortcomings.
Background
Confederate troops facing Union soldiers armed with Henrys reportedly called it 'that damned Yankee rifle you could load on Sunday and shoot all week,' a testament to the shock of facing 16-shot repeating fire when their own standard-issue musket fired a single round before requiring nearly 30 seconds to reload. Many Union soldiers who carried Henrys paid for them out of their own pockets, sometimes spending three months of pay for the privilege of better firepower.