.44 Henry Centre Fire Flat

[wyldwylliam]

Over the last few weeks, I've read several references to the various carts. folks wish the repro Henries were made in.

Was thinking about this while leafing thru Cartridges of the World again and ran across the above named cartridge and he says it was chambered in "the final lot of 1866 Henry rifles.

Did he mean the '66 yellow boy?

Was this cartridge ever factory chambered in the Henry and/or as a conversion? Pretty sure conversions were done, and it occurred to me that this cartridge would be the closest practical round, from a historical perspective, that a modern repro Henry could be made in if any of the Italians or anybody else felt like doing it.

[Coffinmaker]

There haven't been any documented Henry conversions to the Central Fire cartridge.  One or two Henry rifles are rumored to have been gunsmith converted in later years.
When ever you see reference to an 1866 Henry, the Yellowboy (an Indian term) is the subject.  The original factory description was 1866 Henry Improved.
The last production run of 1866s were export only.  The majority went to Central and South America, some to Spain and Mexico.  None of that production run was sold in this country.  A few have been "re-imported," probably less than 5.

Coffinmaker

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

This is from THE HISTORY OF WINCHESTER FIREARMS

By;  Duncan Barnes, George R. Watrous, James C. Rikhoff, Thomas H. Hall, and Pete Kuhlhoff, Winchester Press, 5th edition 1966, 1973, 1980
ISBN 0-8329-0397-3


Page 12. "In 1891, 1,020 M/66 components parts on hand for many years, were used in the assembly of rifles chambered for the 44 "Henry" center fire cartridge and shipped to a firm in Brazil. In making up this lot of guns it was necessary to change the breech pin by discarding the Breech Pin Snapper, substituting a center fire firing pin and also inserting a threaded bushing in the face of the breech pin base with a hole in the center to allow the point of the firing pin to protrude and hit the primer. All other components were the same as previously used on the standard M/66, 44 caliber rim fire rifles, except for the chambering of the barrel."

The Henry cartridge is apparently the parent of the long line of 44 S&W cartridges as well.  When the Army were experimenting with the S&W No.3 revolver they requested that it be chambered in a centerfire cartidge.  S&W kept the chambering for the original 44 Henry, merely changing it to CF thus creating the 44 American.

[Sean Thornton]

The movie industry did convert a few Henry rifles to center fire before the reproduction made it to the scene.  Also a few that made it to Latin America were converted to center fire.  I have had the honor of holding 2 such Henry rifles that have been converted to center fire.  In fact one of the owners never even knew it was converted to center fire until I asked him if I could open the action.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

The movie industry did convert a few Henry rifles to center fire before the reproduction made it to the scene.  Also a few that made it to Latin America were converted to center fire.  I have had the honor of holding 2 such Henry rifles that have been converted to center fire.  In fact one of the owners never even knew it was converted to center fire until I asked him if I could open the action.

Are your cf '66s the ones sent to Brazil or the later ones converted for Hollywood?  Someone in Saskatchewan has a cf '66, but I've lost his contact info.

[wyldwylliam]

Wow, the scholarship some of you guys exhibit is just amazing! Very many thanks for clearing that all up for me, really appreciated.