Who made this 1866

yahoody · September 04, 2016, 10:58:23 PM

Looks sorted already but I agree as well. "In 1979 when Navy Arms Co. founder, the late Val Forgett, came out with a limited-production of 1,000 rifles, 500 chambered in .44 Henry"

Check the firing pin...likely a dual firing pin for rim fire cartirdges if it is one of Forgett's. Forgett also had the Henry rimfire ammo reproduced. Easy enough to change over to a center fire however.

If it were mine I'd have it done up as a .44 Russian. You have a very nice gun there, congrads!

Abilene · September 05, 2016, 12:16:32 AM

I guess a good question would be if an Uberti barrel would thread into the receiver. If so, might be easy to put a 44 Spcl barrel on it and shoot Russians.

yahoody · September 05, 2016, 01:45:42 AM

Quote from: Abilene on September 05, 2016, 12:16:32 AM
I guess a good question would be if an Uberti barrel would thread into the receiver. If so, might be easy to put a 44 Spcl barrel on it and shoot Russians.

Uberti parts should work. A buddy switched the bolt/firing pin on his Navy Arms Henry in .44 with no/little issues. Better yet get a 44 Special barrel and cut the chamber back for a true 44 Russian.

Major 2 · September 05, 2016, 06:20:28 AM

I don't think the US gun was Metric thread .... $:-\$ ( but a Uberti Barrel be would my 1st look as a of donor as well )
It 50/50 on the firing pin , might be CF ....if RF then a Firing pin may need be made, there is little chance there are parts.

Never the less, a build is warranted even screaming

Mike · September 05, 2016, 01:24:38 PM

It is a shame Uberti did not make a short block frame. They started buisness makeing replicas but now are chaseing the 45 colt non origanal
configuration. That will open up a Hornets nest but Hay.

44 Russian would be my preferance, I have Henry's and 66 in 44 WCF and they are great and shoot very well with Black or the other suff.

Coffinmaker · September 06, 2016, 07:22:14 PM

Twer it mine ....... I'd source a barrel ala Yahoody, chamber for 44 Russian and build the gun as a 16 1/2 in barrel Trapper. Trapper with a 16 1/2 inch tube will hold the CAS Play 10 Rounds (I know cause I built a 44 Russian '66 Trapper). It would be too cool for school

Coffinmaker

RebHolister · September 07, 2016, 12:32:55 PM

Yesterday on ebay there was an old Navy Arms Henry barrel chambered in .44Henry. Thought somebody might be interested.

Pettifogger · September 07, 2016, 01:38:18 PM

The early Navy Arms were Henry's. This is a 66. How did we morph Henrys into 66s? I have never heard or read anything that Navy Arms made any 66s in the U.S.

Coffinmaker · September 09, 2016, 09:08:05 AM

I just remembered a possibility. Remote, but Possible. There is ...... or was ..... a start-up outfit in Eastern Europe beginning to make Henry Rifles and 1866s in some odd cartridge configurations. One that was to be offered was 45 ACP. Seems they may have been working with the engineering based on the original Henry and '66 frame.

Now, how one would get one into this country would be quite interesting. Velley Interestink. Just a random thought, that.

Coffinmaker

Major 2 · September 10, 2016, 06:38:58 AM

Long Johns Wolf might answer that question better perhaps... But Mike, I don't thing the Eastern Block outfit ever amounted to anything than a few mockups and some perhaps, seed money pre-orders forfeited $:-\$

If I had the receiver in question, 1st. I check if the screws were metric.... if not I'd lean toward the Navy Arms Henry that was modified to King's improvement , perhaps with Uberti or ? 66 loading gate... this seems the most plausible, at least
out of the 1000 made, the most likely candidate.

There is also the brilliant gunsmith chap that makes his own Volcanic & Henry's that post here from time to time , perhaps one of his fine creations escaped $:-\$

it also might be , and early prototype , that Val had produced in Gardone .

whatever the case Mr Fanning is a very fortunate fellow, if I had it, I'd be all over the receiver and have my FAVORITE retired Gunsmith fit a 44 barrel ....yep that's what I'd do

Colt Fanning · September 10, 2016, 09:13:02 AM

Hi,
Just an update. The most difficult part of building up this rifle is the loading gate. It is wider and longer than the conventional Uberti 1866?? go figure. I have managed to make one out of an stock 1866 gate by building it up as shown in the picture. The ugly splices are almost totally covered up by the window in the side plate. The screws are standard gun thread (US). The barrel thread is 13/16 x16 which I believe is what Uberti uses. Although the fit of the parts is very good there is now sign of filing or other hand fitting so I don't think this was a handmade one of a kind. Rather it was made with tooling. I suspect that it was made as a proof of concept prototype to promote sales. Later when Uberti began production they decided to use an 1873 carrier for parts compatibility and to accommodate the 44/40 cartridge. Any how it looks like an easy build from here.
Regards
Colt

Tascosa Joe · September 10, 2016, 01:46:25 PM

Colt are you going to bring this the Berger Sharpshooters Regional. If you are I guess we will have to make up a 28rd rifle stage just for you. LOL
T-Joe

Major 2 · September 10, 2016, 06:00:52 PM

Hope he does... I'm looking forward to seeing it

Colt Fanning · September 29, 2016, 09:36:33 AM

Finished

Coffinmaker · September 29, 2016, 03:35:09 PM

OUT FREEKING STANDING!! NICE INDEED!!

Coffinmaker

Coal Creek Griff · September 29, 2016, 04:03:14 PM

WOW!

Thanks!

CC Griff

major · September 29, 2016, 07:35:02 PM

CF
Does it cycle 44 Russian?

Mike · September 30, 2016, 02:01:47 AM

Great look, how was the stock finished, how does it shoot.

Major 2 · September 30, 2016, 04:14:27 AM

who's the barrel manufacturer ...very nice job , very very nice

Colt Fanning · September 30, 2016, 08:33:10 AM

Hi,
The stock has a light coat of possibly Polyurethane which is very dull and does not totally fill the grain. The barrel is Uberti but the thread on the receiver is 20/in.

not the 16 used by Uberti. This is a very strange gun. I cut the thread off and re threaded for 20 /in. The Bbl. length is now 19 3/8 in. I am not too happy with the blueing on the barrel and may polish it more and reblue at some point. The barrel had a burr or wire edge at the crown which I was able to mostly break off with cleaning patches and I am shooting very low power loads intended for a wobbly S&W russian revolver. It shoots about a 5 in. group at 25 Yds. I am hoping that as the barrel smooths out and with moderate loads , it will shoot better.
Regards
Colt