Henry Modifications in Production Runs

[Major 2]

Over the years from 1980 [AF] to present, I have owned several Henrys.
Currently I have two a [BH] Coded 1996 and [CA] 2006

I noticed the newest a Steel frame, has a red rubber bumper in a recess cut into the Magazine follower.
My earlier Military Model or my earlist 22" Carbine did not have this feature.
Not real sure when this first show up , I suspect early in the new Century 

I'm not all that fond of it... more on the Aesthetics side than the safety aspect ( what limited safety it offers ) againist slam fires.
So... It occures to me to ask , anyone feel the same ,  would you change it out ?


Also since Flint has asked, about Short strokes or Alum. Carriers....
I'm not a fan , but has anyone, modifed their Henry ? And what are your impressions now with the parts installed ?

[litl rooster]

   I have a steel frame BA model year....I've changed the springs only cause the factory one(1) of two, broke had one just go flat. Then I put the whisper springs in.  no other mods done.  It's slow or I'm slow but I like shooting it the way it is.

[Long Johns Wolf]

I have a steel frame with CA code (2006) in .44 Spec. Shooting .44 Colt smokeless only after light adjustmenst to the carrier.
Only other alteration is installation of whispersprings. She came with the rubber bumper from the factory.
Long Johns Wolf

[Flint]

I have a C&I standard Short Stroke in my 66, and a Pioneer kit in my 73.  I like them both, I think the adjustment/installation instructions are better for the Pioneer.  I don't have one in my Henry yet, but considering the hand interference so close to the lever while cocking when the follower comes to the rear (I use a wood dowel spacer in the magazine to stoip it short of my hand), The short stroke would help there iif for no other reason than the closeness of your hands bunched up at the frame.  With the forestock of the 66 and 73, there isn't the traffic jam back near the lever that you get with the Henry.  Comes the spare money and I will short stroke the Henry.

[Coffinmaker]

Major 2,

Well since you asked ............... I have 4 Henrys.  ALL of them have been "modified" in some form or another.  
A have two standard Henrys, one Civilian and one Martial marked with sling attachments.  Both have had full action jobs and Short Stroke Kits installed.  The Carrier Blocks have been modified to shoot ".45 Squirt" cartridges, which are .45 Schofield cases cut back to .44 Russian length.  The rifles hold 16 or 17 of those, I forget.  I also shoot them with "Stick, Mark 1, A1" on top of the cartridge stack to prevent Magazine discharge.  Stick also lets me grip the barrel without that pesky "Henry Hop."

I have the first "Henry Improved" (A Henry with a Kings Patent side loading gate) to come to pennsylvania.  Same, action job, modified Carrier Block for .45 Squirt and short stroke done.

I have very rare factory 16 inch barrel Trapper, Rare because it's .45 Colt.  Now modified to include a Kings Patent side loading gate, action job, modified Carrier Block for .45 Squirt and Short Stroke.

All of these rifles shoot as fast as any competition set up '66 or '73.  They were as easy to set up as any other rifle I have worked on.  They had the usual Uberti Head Space problems, solved with different length toggle sets in the short stroke kits.  The long guns are barrel heavy but still as copetitive as anything else we play with.  I set the guns up to shoot .45 Squirt, because I couldn't get out of the box .44 specials, to shoot with .44 Russian to approximate the original size cartridge.  All of them are gobs of fun to play with!!

Coffinmaker

I had 5 Henrys.  I sold my "in the white" rifle.  Dumb move.  Wish I had it back.

[Coffinmaker]

OOPS!!  I forgot to answer part of the question.  "Others" may have similar, or different results, but to date I haven't found an Aluminum Carrier Block I felt worked "as advertised."  All of the aluminum carriers I have tried have found some way to "hang up" and just were not "right."  I prefer machined brass carriers.

Also, for large bore rifles, I have much better luck with 3rd generation Short Stroke kits than the latest "4th" generation "super short" kits.  For what ever reason, super short seems to work best in small bore rifles.  Not that super short doesn't work well, just better in small bore.  I have used kits from Ron Snover (The Ottaway Smith), C & I and Pioneer.  There all great, although Ron Snover's kits are the Rolls Royce of 3rd gen kits.

Coffinmaker

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I bought my steel framed Henry two years ago and it had the red rubber buffer in the follower. I don't mind it.

I had Happy Trails slick up my Henry a bit. He did his standard polishing and slicking job, he installed his Whisper Springs, lightened the carrier a bit, lightened the firing pin, and lightened the main spring. I also had him install a strain screw for the main spring because Hap usually lightens my springs a tad too much and I wanted to be able to tighten it a bit, which proved to be a good thing, I needed to tweak the spring a tad. Hap installed a set of short stroke links in it because of the hand close to the receiver thing. I use a spacer stick in mine, and keep my hand right where the barrel meets the frame. The normal stroke of the lever bumped into my hand. Hap asked me if I wanted the 'Wicked Short' stroke kit, I said no, something a little bit less extreme would be fine. I was actually there when he installed them so we got to try it out to make sure I liked it.

Hap also does a slight safety modification down inside these guns. Before Uberti changed the design of the bolt, there was nothing but a 1/16" pin holding the firing pin extension to the bolt. An out of battery discharge could be a problem, especially because there is no lever safety on these guns. Hap installed a good sized set screw on the frame that rides in the slot he milled in the firing pin extension to lighten it. Should the extension ever try to fly back, the screw will prevent it from exiting the frame.

[Major 2]

DJ... I use your spacer stick..well my version of it, mostly for safety reasons, Henry hop wise when I shoot CAS.
In leisurely off-hand shooting I usually skip it.

[Joss House]

I noticed the newest a Steel frame, has a red rubber bumper in a recess cut into the Magazine follower.
My earlier Military Model or my earlist 22" Carbine did not have this feature.
Not real sure when this first show up , I suspect early in the new Century 

I purchased my 60 Henry a couple of years ago from Cimarron. It had the rubber bumper in the follower. I immediately removed it, turn a piece of bar stock rod to the same diameter and length, swaged it into place then drilled and cross pinned it with a 1/8" brass rod. That was one safety feature that simply annoyed the heck out of me until I got it redone. FWIW, I could have purchased a solid brass follower from Dixie Gun Works for about eight bucks but shipping would have been about the same price as the part, so I modified mine only costing me my labor.

[Coffinmaker]

I don't see the little Rubber Baby Buggie Bumper as a bad thing.  The only time it's seen is when you load, and who cares??  I do feel the "safety" it offers is "marginal" at best.  On a full stack of cartridges, it's also superfluous.  On a short stack, iffy. 
Henrys can give you a magazine discharge if you drop the follower with or without the bumper.  Personally the bumpers in my guns don't bother me in the least.  Mine however, aren't red.  There beige.  Hardly see 'um.  Product of the legal department and to please BATF import.
I much prefer to use "Stick, Mark 1, A1."  No bumper needed.

Coffinmaker