page_title: Henry rifle
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: Henry rifle / Operation
caption_attribution_description: English: Mod 60 Henry rifle, magazine open for loading; 3 Henry rounds, one round 44-40 to compare
context_page_description: The Henry repeating rifle is a lever-action tubular magazine rifle famed both for its use at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and being the basis for the iconic Winchester rifle of the American Wild West.
  Designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry in 1860, the original Henry was a sixteen shot .44 caliber rimfire breech-loading lever-action rifle. It was introduced in the early 1860s and produced through 1866 in the United States by the New Haven Arms Company. The Henry was adopted in small quantities by the Union in the Civil War, favored for its greater firepower than the standard issue carbine. Many later found their way West, notably in the hands of the Sioux and Cheyenne in their obliteration of Custer's U.S. Cavalry troops in June 1876.
  Modern replicas are produced by A. Uberti Firearms and Henry Repeating Arms. Most are chambered in .44-40 Winchester or .45 Long Colt.
context_section_description: The Henry rifle used a .44 caliber cartridge with 26 to 28 grains (1.7 to 1.8 g) of black powder. This gave it significantly lower muzzle velocity and energy than other repeaters of the era, such as the Spencer. The lever action, on the down-stroke, ejected the spent cartridge from the chamber and cocked the hammer. A spring in the magazine forced the next round into the follower; locking the lever back into position pushed the new cartridge into the chamber and closed the breech. As designed, the Henry lacked any form of safety. When not in use its hammer rested on the cartridge rim; any impact on the back of the exposed hammer could cause a chambered round to fire.  If left cocked, it was in the firing position without a safety. Modern Henry replicas incorporate a safety mechanism, such as a transfer bar safety, so the gun will not fire if dropped or the hammer is released partially by accident.
  To load the magazine, the shooter moves the cartridge-follower along the slot into the top portion of the magazine-tube and pivots it to the right to open the front-end of the magazine.  He loads up to 15 cartridges one by one, he pivots the top portion back and releases the follower.
caption: Magazine in loading position, three Henry Flat cartridges, compare with .44-40 WCF round