Henry repeater - M1 carbine in CW?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Let's stir up the pot.

The Henry was very much the M-1 carbine of the Civil War.  Both revolutionary, both 15 shots, both quicker than the rifle for repeat shots (the Garand was the Spencer of the CW).  Both did not have the range of the infantry rifle, but both used very effectively close up.  Mobile skirmishers loved the Henry, Airborne used the carbine heavily in Europe.  I knew an old man who used one in Europe and may dad carried one in the Pacific.

Let's get this started

[Will Ketchum]

T.L., good comparison.  Of course I would consider the Henry more revolutionary since there were plenty of other guns available during the M1 carbine era, although most were in the submachine gun class.  Still a fair comparison.

Will Ketchum

[Tuolumne Lawman]

True,

Maybe a better comparison would be the Henry and the AR15 (full Auto, before it became M16) in 1960-61 when it went to Vietnam with "Advisors".  I think it was called "Project ARPA" or something like that. They had a 1/14 twist, green painted brown furniture, and steel waffle mags.  After all, the Henry has been called the first assault rifle!

[Coffinmaker]

Nah.  The Henry was the Civil War version of the M1 Garand!!  The first and original "Assault" rifle.  Problem was, there weren't enough of them and the military tacticians of the day didn't now how to employ them.
Had they been employed in real numbers ...................

Coffinmaker

[Drydock]

In range and employment, the Henry was the Submachine gun of the CW.  Rapid fire, high capacity, short range, pistol cartridge.  I would rate the Spencer in the M1 carbine role.  Employed with light forces, using an intermediate power cartridge, in far greater numbers than the Henry. 

If there is a "Garand" here it would be the 59 vertical breech Sharps Breechloader.  The only Breechloader fielded in significant numbers using a round equivilant to a full power musket round.  In firing rate it would compare to a 61 musket much as a Garand might compare to a bolt action.