Idle Speculation

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Pards

I was ruminating a little while ago and thought I would use up a few electrons to put my thoughts down here.

We often talk about how our brass framed Henrys and '66s get a bit dented on top from brass raining down on top of them.

I started wondering about the originals. I was wondering what they looked like on top. I've never actually seen a real Henry without museum display glass between me and it, and I've never thought to look at the top of a few original '66s I've looked at at gun shows.

I know that most, if not all, of the 44 Rimfire ammo was copper cased, and I'm pretty sure that copper would not dent a brass frame as much as modern cartridge brass would. The copper would be softer. I also suspect that most of the originals did not have the large quantity of empties raining down on them that our guns tend to. On the other hand, those guns are old enough for a lot of rounds to have been put through them over the years.

I'm just curious. Anybody looked for dents on the top of original brass framed lever guns? What did you see?

[Henry4440]

DJ
Here are some pics from original Henrys.









The last Henry had an Iron Frame.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Thanks 4440.

Looks to me like most of those guns are no more the worse for wear on the tops than they are on the sides. There would not be any empties raining down on the sides.

[Fox Creek Kid]

My repro has a huge BP patina stain on the top with some dings & that's the way I like it. After all, I'd rather it look like a gun that's "been there" than one that was owned by a piano player in a cathouse! 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Some of my best friends were piano players in cat houses.

[Henry4440]

Here is a pic of my Henry.
It's an hard working one.

[Driftwood Johnson]

Mine has a steel frame. Hopefully it won't get any dents on the top.

[Deadeye Don]

All of these dents just add character to them.  Kind of like all the "dents" we all have after living for awhile.   

[Steel Horse Bailey]

All of these dents just add character to them.  Kind of like all the "dents" we all have after living for awhile.   

My 1866 Improved Henry has MANY dings ... and many characters have fired it, too!