Henry Extraction

[Marshall John Joseph]

I am looking at a used Uberti Henry (mfg 1991) in 44.40.  The rifle has been shooting exclusively BP for 3 of the last 5 years, the last two years not been used much except for display at Civil War reinactiments.  The owner has removed the bluing from the barrel, allowed the brass to age, and stripped and oil finished the stock.  It looks like an original.  Bore is bright and clean.  Action is smoooooothe.  (owner states that an action job was performed several years ago by Cody Conagher)  During examination while using a dummy round, extraction is flawless; this is when levering in a normal stroke.  However, if you very very slowly lever to extract, the casing is pulled half way out then the extractor lets go and there is no removal of the spent case.  The owner was honest enough to point out that the problem could be the case rim support on the face of the bolt - it shows signs of wear.  However, the only time that this happens is when you artifically slowly lever and attempt to extract.  This would not be a normal cycling action.

Now, I know that this is not a normal cycling situation, so maybe I am being too paranoid.  I know that if you do not cycle the Winchester 1887 lever shotgun with sufficient force, that the spent case will get hung up.

My question is to those of you more knowledgable than me, is this a red flag?  I have done some research and a possible fix is to actually remove the rim support from the face of the bolt and silver solder a new one on.  Assuming that this extraction failure on such a slow levering is not normal, is it common?  The other alternative is to replace the bolt itself, which because of the age of the Henry, would require some newer parts to replace parts no longer being manufactured.  Parts over $100.

Have any of you run into this problem?  Or is it a problem?

Thanks in advance

Marshall John Joseph

[Major 2]

Without seeing and cycling it ...it's hard for me (Us) to make the decision 

But if the price is right      I'd be on it like patina on brass 

[Marshall John Joseph]

I believe the price is right.  Just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem - even to the point of complete failure of cycling, and had to repair the rim support.  Hope a Henry gunsmith is reading this and has some personal knowledge.  I have an email in to Cody Conagher and hope he will reply.  I figure if anyone would know, he would.  He's working on a couple of my other projects as we speak.  [guess he's entitled to a weekend off ]

Thanks

MJJ

[Major 2]

Him or Bill English  AKA happy trails @ the Smith Shop

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

For what it's worth, my Henry does not care how fast or slow I work the lever, it extracts the brass anyway.

Do give Happy Trails a call. If the rim support needs replacing, or needs to be shored up a bit, Hap is a real wizard at welding on new metal and shaping it to what ever is needed. He has done so on several guns for me. No matter what, Hap will know what to do with the rifle.

http://www.thesmithshop.com/

[Pettifogger]

Easy fix if you are handy, or for a decent gunsmith.  Several smiths repair the cartridge tab.  Also, what kind of brass are you using?  Winchester and Starline work the best.  A lot of people have problems with Remington because the rims seem to be a little thicker.

[Marshall John Joseph]

Thanks for all your input.  I shot an email to The Smithshop for some information.   I just don't want to put good money into bad, if you know what I mean.  The seller is a stand up Pard and has given me some time to investigate and be satisfied.  And he is local for a FTF transaction.  I am pretty confident but just want to be sure.

I guess I am a little "gun shy" (pardon the pun).  Bought a Winchester 97 from an out of town dealer.  When I got it, it wouldn't even lock up.  Sent it back, he got it fixed.  When I got it back, I discovered that the headspace was "no go" and caused misfires -firing pin not striking the primer hard enough.  Because of the info supplied by you great Pards on the wire, my local gunsmith was able to fix it by welding/shimming the bolt.    He also fixed the barrel where the previous owner shortened it - crooked.  What a PIA!  But that is over and done with.

I just don't want a repeat type of situation.  I guess I could just go out an buy a new Henry for $1100, pay another $140 for an action job.  But I can get this Henry for half the price. 

This particular Henry has developed some great character over the years.  Now this may sound stupid, but I would like to get the old girl singing again, just not for a song and a dance.

Marshall John Joseph

[Flint]

As the others have said, if the price is right, at half the price, as you said, you have money left over to repair the tab.  Snap it up.

The tabs do wear, especially if the case rim touches it as the carrier comes up.  This is a common problem with short stroke kits, where the timing can be off enough to break the tab off, if not properly adjusted.  It might still be a timing issue if the brand of brass allows the rim to touch on the way up, even on a rifle that has not been stroked.

Henrys are expensive as you obvoiusly have found out, and a good, smooth running sample is well worth getting, the action job it received is a plus, it is definitely worth the price.

The new bolt design, as noted, makes the replacement a more expensive affair than it used to be, it would be interesting to compare the cost of repairing the tab to comletely replacing the bolt assembly with the new version.  You might report back to us on that.

[Marshall John Joseph]

Just received an email from Hap at The Smithshop.  To weld and reshape the rim support would be $40 plus shipping.  To completely replace the bolt would be $150 plus shipping.  I'm going to pay $650 for the Henry and use it until ejection becomes a problem, which per the owner, has not been a problem thus far.  When/if there is a failure, Hap will restore it.

Guess I will soon be 101 on the Henry roster.

Thanks to all of you fine Pards.

MJJ

[Flint]

Welcome aboard, Marshall.  You'll be higher than 101, they are still joining us..  Flint

[Marshall John Joseph]

Just an update on my newly purchased Henry.  I bought some 44-40 Magtec Cowboy loads and took the Henry out to the range for the first time.  Function and extraction "butter smooth".  No jams, no extraction failures.  Firing it was a kick in the pants!  Like shooting a 22 - no kick and is it ever accurate!  Absolutely love it.  The Cody Conagher action job that came with it adds to the sweetness of the rifle.

So, all that worrying for nothing!!!  I think it was well worth the $650 that I paid for it.

Thanks to all you Pards who took the time to read my post, responded, and gave some helpful info.

Marshall John Joseph