Henry H011: Buyer's beware

[VA27]

Last week I had a chance to inspect 2 different guns at shops about a hundred miles apart. Both of these rifles had barrels that were in a word, awful! The edges of the barrel flats were rounded off to the point that they looked like the worst 'bubba' reblue ever done! I was embarrased to even look at them! The bluing itself was good, but they were polished beyond fixing.

A friend of mine had ordered one and was committed to buying it (a small one man shop run by a close friend) and he was not a happy camper! He is contacting the company to see about a replacement and I will update what response he gets.

In the meantime I would suggest that buyers have the gun in hand before committing to a purchase. A rifle with a $2300 MSRP should have not made it past QC looking that way, but at least 2 did.

 

[Jackal]

Agreed, for $2000 beans, it better be a work of art, not a work of shart.

 

[Speedo66]

Not familiar with that gun, so looked at a photo online. Is that a sheet metal shroud around the barrel?

 

[DPris]

No, it's a unique 1860 Henry barrel design.
Just has a semi-open mag tube underneath with the front section swiveling to allow front-end loading.
Denis

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I had a slight problem with a Henry rifle a few years back and the company was extremely professional. There was nothing wrong with the rifle yet they still changed out some parts to make me happy. They went above and beyond. I hope they are still doing that and help you out quickly.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Wow, you'd think they would know how to do it right considering they've been making this rifle for 150+ years now.

 

[carbine85]

I haven't owned a Henry but everyone one I have ever seen (new) is perfect in every detail. The actions are smooth as silk.

 

[CornCod]

Well, the Henry that exists now has nothing to do with the 19th Century company. Henry 2.0 has a pretty good reputation for customer service.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Wow, you'd think they would know how to do it right considering they've been making this rifle for 150+ years now.

Henry repeating arms hasn't even been in business 20 years.

The original Henry rifle was made by New Haven arms which became Winchester

 

[DPris]

Hopefully Cool was kidding.
That rifle's new this year.
Denis

 

[CraigC]

Every other Henry is a cheaply made gun, why would this one be any different??? Every one of their octagon barrels I've looked at looked like it was polished by either Gary Reeder or a 900lb gorilla with a toothache.

 

[VA27]

I've seen quite a few Henry 22's with octagon barrels that were fine. It's not like they don't know how to do it right. Pix of some of the guns on auction sites seem to show that there are more bad ones than just the two I saw floating around out there.

 

[Skylerbone]

Every one of their octagon barrels I've looked at looked like it was polished by either Gary Reeder or a 900lb gorilla with a toothache.

That's the funniest thing I've read in ages! Thanks for the heads up, OP.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Every other Henry is a cheaply made gun, why would this one be any different??? .

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.

 

[CraigC]

It's not like they don't know how to do it right.

They don't. I haven't seen one yet that wasn't over polished.

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.

Somebody had to.

 

[jmr40]

I'm with Craig,

I've not handled many of their centerfires, but none have impressed me. They make a decent budget 22. The photos on their website look just as you describe the guns you saw. Looks like that is just the way they are designed.

 

[WestKentucky]

It's built to be purty...not to be functional. Shiny and polished is purty. I think they did as they intended...even though it's not what a lot of people would want.

 

[CraigC]

If you're looking for an 1860 repro (the current "Henry" is no more authentic), look at the Uberti's. They've been building them for years and all their rifles are very well put together. And about half the cost of the "Henry".

 

[HOOfan_1]

It's built to be purty...not to be functional. Shiny and polished is purty. I think they did as they intended...even though it's not what a lot of people would want.

The octagon barrel is part of what makes it "purty", if they are rounding off the edges that defeats the purpose. Starting to sound like Uberti makes a superior product for half the price.

 

[chuckles]

I agree, junk. That's what made in America gets you now. Just Like Chevrolet.
Go with the Italian Uberti for a well made gun.

 

[DPris]

The sample 1860 I had here was certainly not junk.
Barrel was nicely polished, not overly so.
Functioned perfectly, minor irritation in a weak rear sight ladder detent. Stuff happens.

I've worked with Henrys of several calibers in rim & centerfire for several years.

All have been accurate.
All (with the exception of the low-end .22) were well-made, and the only reason I include the low-end .22 levergun as a "lesser grade" version is because of the plastic they used to put on them.

The Golden Boys & the Big Boys were all slick, all finished well, all had very nice wood, and despite the rimfire versions' alternative construction methods, seem to be holding up well.
Every company puts out the occasional lemon, and Imperato makes sure customer service problems are dealt with in strong favor of the customer.

I've held off in actually keeping a Henry, the Big Boys are too heavy for my tastes & the rimfires were still too "new".

But- there is no smoother rimfire levergun out there anywhere, and after working with the latest one last month I decided the things are proven enough by now to buy it.
I see very few complaints about them breaking down & none about them wearing out.

They are far from junk.
Denis

 

[Skylerbone]

Dad has a .22 Henry. They shoot fine, they're fun, I don't consider them junk but CraigC's description nailed it; they ain't what I wanna look at. Reproduction implies an effort has been made to recreate a previous iteration and on that level Henry fails, particularly at its price-point.