.44 Centerfire For 1866

[Capt. Montgomery Little]

Has anyone here ever seen either the ammunition for or a centerfire model of the 1866. I have an article in American Rifleman about one mfd in 1879 with a picture but would be interested in pics from anyone on this forum.

[Buck Stinson]

I've seen several single rounds of ammunition in years past, but even in the late 60's these were selling for $50.00 to $75.00 each.  Back then you could buy an original box of .44 Henry Flat for $100.00, so the single round of center fire was very expensive.   I still have a dandy model 1866 carbine in .44 Henry Center Fire that I aquired back in 1968 and which I lettered at that time.   It was shipped from the factory on October 20, 1888.  This is a very late gun in the 166XXX serial range.   It is not recorded in the ledgers as being a center fire, although the conversion is definately factory.  I don't know of any 1866's that are actually listed in the warehouse ledgers as .44 Henry Center Fire.  I do know that late in 1891, just over 1000 center fire carbines were made up from left over parts and shipped to South America.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Most of them were made for the Brazillian miltary.  In around 1050 units if I heard it right.

I have seen an original 1860 Henry in the middle of a restoration that had been made into a centre fire during the course of the project.