Early Navy Arms "Incorrect" Henry FS

[Fox Creek Kid]

Stumbled across this on the Internet. It's one of the early Navy Arms Henry rifles with the incorrect "extra" sideplate screw. Some say these were made by Uberti and some say Val Forgett contracted an American co. to make them. Anyone know for sure?


http://www.gunsinternational.com/detail.cfm?id=100066920&string=cid=205

[Hoof Hearted]

Here's Val's email address:

forgett@mindspring.com

Give him a holler and see what he can tell us about it!

[Major 2]

I owned one of these, purchased in 1980.
Mine, was made in house at then Replica Arms ( Val's other company) from Uberti assembled parts.
At the time of my purchase only 44/40 and 44RF were offered.
Thats right, you could get 44RF though they were rare, mine was so marked but had a CF firing pin and chambered 44/40.
I paid $350 NIB and a 10% FFL holder recieving fee, I was out the door for under $400 including tax.  

My gun was also had a 22" long barrel and sling swivel & barrel staple loop....I sold it   in 89 and still sorry I let it go

[Major 2]

Here's Val's email address:

forgett@mindspring.com

Give him a holler and see what he can tell us about it!

Val passed away in 2002 

That may be his son

[Long Johns Wolf]

Major & all: Mike Venturino mentioned in his LA book that Uberti made some 20 (?) Henries early on in the correct .44 RF caliber and only lateron in .44-40 for the shooters.
Possibly these early rifles were just marked .44 RF but were actually .44-40 like this one here?
Long Johns Wolf

[Hoof Hearted]

Val passed away in 2002 

That may be his son

Hell, I knew that, just assumed every one else did too!

Correction to my previous post;
Val Forget II

HH

[Henry4440]

My gun was also had a 22" long barrel and sling swivel & barrel staple loop....I sold it   in 89 and still sorry I let it go

You sold your Henry in .44RF?
Could you buy  the .44RF ammo in the 80's?

[Major 2]

yeah 1880's . 

No... mine was marked 44RF it was chambered for 44/40
however I used it in Reenacting as well ,and had 444 Matlin Brass cut & necked down to use as blanks
I used styrofoam as a plug with a drop of Elmers white glue

[Coffinmaker]

I noticed the rifle also has a '73 style lever and a trigger block safety.  VERY early Uberti built rifle.  Kinda Neat.  I hope nothing breaks in it, there are no replacement parts anywhere.  I'd still shoot it though.

Coffinmaker

[Hoof Hearted]

I spent yesterday evening with an old friend comparing several 1860 and 1866 rifles (about 2 dozen). He brought an early Henry just like the one referred to in this string. Here are my observations:

The barrel address is marked "like" the originals but lists the manufacturer as either Navy Arms Co. or Uberti in the second line (under the patent) instead of New Haven Arms Co. This would be the first type of bbl adress (under serial #23000).

The carrier and ejection port are narrower and shorter than current production rifles. The Ejection port is "notched" towards the breech end of the bbl to facilitate ejection of loaded rounds. Current rifles have a longer port and correspondng carrier (longer towrds the breech).

The first 1860's had the extra screw (like current 1873's) as well as the lever safety and the tab for the lever latch. Some had the latch, some didn't (not sure when that happened).

The sight on this one was rounded, front to rear and thinned towards the top. Original owner untouched and unfired.

The trigger did not have the external spring (basically 1873 type internals).

The stock had about 2 inches less drop and was oil finished, the buttplate did not have the trap door.

Hope this helps!
HH

[Forty Rod]

Over the years I've sure come across a lot of those .44 rim fires if only twenty were made. Undertaker still has one and I know of two others within 15 miles of here.  The Stockade in Orange County had three on the shelves in about 1978 os so, maybe a bit later.  They had three in .44-40 at the same time.  Saw one more up in Kanab, Utah.  The guy couldn't find ammo and was trying to trade it straight up for a '73, with no takers.