[Breitbart] When the original Henry rifle by New Haven Arms Company came out in 1860, it was the high-tech weapon to have. Twice the magazine capacity of the Spencer, it was also less ammo-sensitive and faster in use. For the first time, cycling a rifle also cocked the hammer. Only two factors kept the 1860 model from becoming the standard: a weaker cartridge than the Spencer and the inability to mount a bayonet. The unsealed magazine with an external follower went away in the following decade. Once ammunition advanced from rimfire to drawn brass centerfire, the Henry served as a basis for further development of the Winchester line with a side-loading gate.
By the end of the 19th century, stronger actions chambered cartridges like 45-90 Sharps. By then, the Henry brand was history and looked to stay that way until Louis Imperato and his son Anthony revived the name in 1996. This wasn’t the first gun-related business for the family, but it was to be more durable than those before it. "I wanted Henry to be the best long gun company in the firearms business. Period," said Anthony, "At that time, cities were suing gun companies that made handguns, and getting into the handgun business wasn’t going to be an option. In short, being the best meant manufacturing a quality product, at a value to the consumer, backed by the best customer service in the industry." |