I was wrong

silicosys4 said:

I'm confused. What are we doing here?
Are we upset that a gun magazine gave a positive review about a gun that nobody here seems to have actually handled but are dead set on hating?

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I got to handle one at the last gun show that came through here, about three weeks ago. It's well made, action is smooth and has a nice finish on the wood and metalwork. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and as stated above, a gun doesn't have to be pretty wo do what it is designed for. I'm a big S&W fan and always have been, so I judge a revolver's looks compared to them. The Henry just looks utilitarian without any gracefulness. It has hints of old SA revolvers in the brass trigger guard and how the stocks fit but isn't as graceful as an old SAA, and doesn't look as modern as a Colt or S&W that was built after 1950. I'm sure many will like it and buy it, but I'm not one of them.

Oldschool shooter said:

If guns were sold based on looks, Hi-Points and the Chiappa Rhino would already be off the market, as well as every plastuc stocked sporting rifle. Just my opinion.

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It's different for revolvers and the Rhino makes the Henry revolver look like the Elephant Man. The Rhino isn't trying to be a traditional revolver, quite the opposite, but the Henry tries to look like some vintage turn of the 20th Century DA and the result is unappealing.

If I want an $800 .357 revolver that looks good and works, I'll take a look at those Taurus Executive Grade revolvers.

Ergonomics are important- so I want to feel it before I buy it.
None of my LGS have one in stock, one carries a lot of Henry items.
While 357/38 is versatile, 9 mm with moonies would be nice ?
OR, a five shot 44 SPL !!!

I don’t care about ugly, not ugly. Form follows function. I don’t hate Henry’s, well except for their pump 22. I have two of their rifles at the house right now. It just doesn’t scratch an itch for me. It is a firearm and except for a few, never met one I didn’t like to shoot. I do believe some old school Colt style grips would add to the looks department. Looks are a subjective thing.

TTv2 said:

but the Henry tries to look like some vintage turn of the 20th Century DA and the result is unappealing.

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It reminds me of an old H&R 929 with different grips.
Similarities are definitely there. I don't think it's that ugly because I like the old H&Rs but I agree it is definitely agree it's going to have a lot of recoil and be uncomfortable to shoot in .357Mag. The worse the arthritis in my right hand gets the more I associate pain with a design like that in that caliber.

NeroM said:

Ergonomics are important- so I want to feel it before I buy it.
None of my LGS have one in stock, one carries a lot of Henry items.
While 357/38 is versatile, 9 mm with moonies would be nice ?
OR, a five shot 44 SPL !!!

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I would buy on in a heartbeat if they offered a 44 Spcl.

TTv2 said:

It's different for revolvers and the Rhino makes the Henry revolver look like the Elephant Man. The Rhino isn't trying to be a traditional revolver, quite the opposite, but the Henry tries to look like some vintage turn of the 20th Century DA and the result is unappealing.

If I want an $800 .357 revolver that looks good and works, I'll take a look at those Taurus Executive Grade revolvers.

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I have seen the Henry with the Bird's Head grip frame. That model does look similar to the old Colts. The traditional looking DA revolver is no S&W in the looks department, I would love to see how it feels in the hand. I didn't like the looks of the Kimber revolvers either, but they got it right when it comes to ergonomics.

stonebuster said:

I'm guessing the grip options would be limited or non existent.

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Henry has 6 other options for the guns on their website. All of them wood. From about $45 - $75...............Henry grips

AlexanderA said:

American Rifleman reviews are just as bad as the rest of the gun press. That is, they never say anything critical about the guns they review. To get an unbiased review, you have to go to the online forums.

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Absence of evidence is meaningless. The fact is, nobody actually wants to read a negative review and any review on a firearm that does not function would be an anomaly and statistically insignificant, i.e. meaningless. So guns that do not work well get sent back and replaced with one that does. If one cannot be found, they do not do the review. So what? Do people depend on gun writers to make their decisions for them? I have every magazine and book I've bought since 1986 and have been heavily influenced by gun writers. However, I never bought a firearm depending on anything but my own judgement.

Don't quite know what you all find ugly about the Henry. I've had the misfortune to work for 13of my 20 , plus years as a peace officer carrying one or another of Gaston Glock's abominations.

The Henry doesn't look much different than a Colt s&w or Ruger double action revolver.

As far as prices go it's not much different than 1905 where you could buy a decent s&w or Colt double action revolver for $15 in gold from Sears and roebuck

buck460XVR said:

Henry has 6 other options for the guns on their website. All of them wood. From about $45 - $75...............Henry grips

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Looks like all the Gunfighter grips are the same shape and size but the materials used(walnut, cocobolo or lamanate)& checkering or non checkered is the only difference. Same goes for the Birdshead. So if one doesn't fit your hand none will because other than material used and checkered or not they're identical size & shape...unless I'm missing something.

The Henry revolvers at my LGS are $779.
I think the actually look okay in person, but then I like the looks of the Chiappa Rhino. When I first saw the ad photos of them I thought they looked dorky.
I haven’t handled a Henry revolver so I can’t comment on that.

I’d like to see one in person

Oldschool shooter said:

I would buy on in a heartbeat if they offered a 44 Spcl.

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We should flood Henry's suggestion page with the request for Big Boy Revolver to be chambered in 44 Spl, 5 shot is fine, however prefer it in the birdshead grip.

NeroM said:

We should flood Henry's suggestion page with the request for Big Boy Revolver to be chambered in 44 Spl, 5 shot is fine, however prefer it in the birdshead grip.

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Great idea! I just sent that suggestion to them.

They look on par with Charter Arms revolvers.

I was looking at these grips that Henry offers for their revolvers. It dawned on me that they should be offering their guns with these grips as options. Or better yet, put the danged checkered grips on their guns to begin with.
When I saw their revolvers for the first time at the LGS the very first thing I thought was “I hate smooth grips on a revolver. Why wouldn’t they offer a checkered grip?”
I have never cared for the Harley Davidson, 1911 pistol, AR-15 “buy a high dollar item then spend more money ‘customizing’ it.” mindset.

Pat Riot said:

I was looking at these grips that Henry offers for their revolvers. It dawned on me that they should be offering their guns with these grips as options. Or better yet, put the danged checkered grips on their guns to begin with.
When I saw their revolvers for the first time at the LGS the very first thing I thought was “I hate smooth grips on a revolver. Why wouldn’t they offer a checkered grip?”

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Can't satisfy everybody. I'd replace the checkered grips with smooth ones.

Harley Davidson, 1911 pistol, AR-15 “buy a high dollar item then spend more money ‘customizing’ it.” mindset.

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Making it yours is the best part.

Spend 2X and get a Python.

CraigC said:

Can't satisfy everybody. I'd replace the checkered grips with smooth ones.



Making it yours is the best part.

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It would be nice it’ll they offered their revolvers with grip options.

buck460XVR said:

One needs to remember the old adage....."Opinions are like rectal orifices. Everyone has one.........and they all stink!"

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One must also remember that studies tend to support the views of those who are funding them.

Oddly, handled one in a local shop, first I'd seen. It's better in person than in pictures, though still not quite like anything else. The brass gripframe might be Henry's tip to their lever gun heritage. Manufacture was somewhere in the Midwest, which surprised me. Originally it was an import, yes? Surprised, since Henry's boast has always been "Made in America, or not at all."
The action had a nice mechanical feel. It shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the brick-with-a-handle, the High Point.
Moon