Rifling Specs of Original Henry?

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Boys

There's a little discussion going on right now over on the SASS Wire about original Henry rifles. I just went through my copy of The Historic Henry Rifle, by Wiley Sword, looking for any information about the rifling specs of the Henry rifle. I was not able to find anything, as this book is more about the history of the rifle and less about the technical aspects.

Can anybody help me out with the rifling specs of the original Henrys? Stuff like groove diameter, bore diameter (or rifling depth, I'll take either), number of grooves, twist rate, all that stuff. I'd love to hear what anybody knows.

Thanks.

[Fox Creek Kid]

I've never slugged one Driftwood, but I have read that they are 0.420 bore with 0.010 groove depth, hence 0.440. Then again, I'm sure then as today there were variances. 

[Fox Creek Kid]

P.S., I glanced at the thread over there & Uberti did NOT make the run of pseudo Henry rifles in .44 rimfire in the 1970's. They were made in the U.S. and contracted by Val Forgett at Navy Arms. 

[stepnmud]

Have been wanting to do a comparision between a original Henry and a modern Uberti Henry and have a gun store close by called Collectors Firearms that carries many rare & antique's along with modern firearms, it's kinda like going to a free gun show. Planning on comparing the lenght of lever throw and taking notes with pictures. Might be able to take a picture of the bore's with a bore light held just right. Thinking of writing an article for gun paper and looking for more suggestions on a comparision.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The ejection port is smaller on the originals.

[Sgt. Jake]

  I did a little comparision of a Uberti 66 and a Winchester 1866 3rd. mod.carbine,The interesting thing I discovered was the Uberti comes from the factory already short stroked,the difference was 5/8",shorter.    Adios  Sgt.Jake

[Henry4440]

I found this on a website:
The barrel of the Henry rifle had gain twist rifling, which meant the twist became faster as it approached the muzzle. The rifling started at about one turn in sixteen feet in front of the chamber and was one turn in thirty three inches at the muzzle. This gain twist rifling was some times used in muzzle loading rifles and thought to improve accuracy.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Henry4440, are you sure that's not the J. Henry muzzleloading rifles that used a gain twist barrel? 

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=90905769

[Henry4440]

Henry4440, are you sure that's not the J. Henry muzzleloading rifles that used a gain twist barrel? 

Fox, i'm quite sure.Because on that website was a pic of the Henry Repeater.
At the moment i didn't find this website.But i will try my very best to find it again.

[Henry4440]

After searching for some time, i found the site.
It's from an article by Bob Sheldon.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1628842/posts

[w44wcf]

DJ,
From the New Haven Arms Co. 1865 Catalog:
Weight of gun - 9.81 lbs.
Diameter of bore - .42
No. of Grooves - 6
No. of Lands - 6
WIdth of groove - .10 inch
Width of land - .10 inch
Depth of grooves - .005

The twist of the grooves increases from 1 turn in 120 inches
to 1 turn in 33 inches at the muzzle.

Henry44-40,
Thank you for the link.

w44wcf

[Driftwood Johnson]

Thanks. Great information.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I have about half a dozen originals, from conical CW with shorter case, and more modern flats with longer case.  The early original bullet was .442 diameter for the 216 grain with 25-26 grains of powder in the shorter case.  The 200 grain flats vary in diameter, if I recall right, from as small as .432 to .439 diameter, with the larger 28 grain powder charge and slightly longer case than the CW conicals.