Fascinating
Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 8:12 am
Since getting interested in Henry rifles, I've done a bit of research to learn the history of the rifle(s) going all the way back to Benjamin Tyler Henry and the New Haven Arms Company, which surprising to me was the forerunner of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Also of interest was that back in 1848, when this whole story actually begins, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson were instrumental in furthering the design of an early rendition of the repeating rifle (the Jenson Rifle), and that they helped matters along by hiring BT Henry away from the company Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, Vermont. Finally, I came to realize how this arms business of the Civil War era was a close-knit grouping of all the greats ... Smith, Wesson, Henry, Winchester, and even Browning.
From Wiki:
The "Jennings' rifle was a commercial failure, and Robbins & Lawrence ceased production in 1852.[1] Smith designed a much-improved rifle based on Jennings', and the partners also hired away Robbins & Lawrence shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry. In 1855 the Smith & Wesson partnership, in order to manufacture what they called the "Volcanic" lever-action rifle and pistol, sought investors and incorporated as the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. Its largest stockholder was clothing manufacturer Oliver Winchester.
In 1866 Benjamin Henry, angered over what he believed was inadequate compensation, attempted to have the Connecticut legislature award ownership of New Haven Arms to him. Oliver Winchester, hastening back from Europe, forestalled the move and reorganized New Haven Arms yet again as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.[2] Winchester had the basic design of the Henry rifle completely modified and improved to become the first Winchester rifle, the Model 1866, which fired the same .44 caliber rimfire cartridges as the Henry but had an improved magazine (with the addition of a loading gate on the right side of the receiver, invented by Winchester employee Nelson King) and, for the first time, a wooden forend. The Henry and the 1866 Winchester shared a unique double firing pin which struck the head of the rimfire cartridge in two places when the weapon was fired, increasing the chances that the fulminate in the hollow rim would ignite the 28 or so grains of black powder inside the case.[citation needed]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wincheste ... ms_Company
As the story unfolds, Winchester goes through a long history of ups and downs, and finally declining to where "on January 16, 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms announced it was closing its New Haven plant where Winchester rifles and shotguns had been produced for 140 years.[6] Along with the closing of the plant, production of the Model 94 rifle (the descendant of the original Winchester rifle), Model 70 rifle and Model 1300 shotgun were discontinued. The official press release sent out by U.S. Repeating Arms concerning the closure was released January 17, 2006."
Fast forward to today. We owe a tremendous amount of thanks to Louis and Anthony Imperato who in 1996 founded the Henry Repeating Arms Company who resuscitated the Henry rifle and did so with unsurpassed quality. And of special importance, all made in America. While one might think that "right" belonged to Winchester, it is clear that Winchester was/is in no organizational shape to do this. Every once in a while, I'll read a post from some people who seem to criticize the Henry Repeating Arms company for what amounts to being imposters (even though they may not use that term). These "purests" need to familiarize themselves with the history and become grateful for what IS available to us firearms enthusiasts, not for opportunities lost.
From Wiki:
The "Jennings' rifle was a commercial failure, and Robbins & Lawrence ceased production in 1852.[1] Smith designed a much-improved rifle based on Jennings', and the partners also hired away Robbins & Lawrence shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry. In 1855 the Smith & Wesson partnership, in order to manufacture what they called the "Volcanic" lever-action rifle and pistol, sought investors and incorporated as the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. Its largest stockholder was clothing manufacturer Oliver Winchester.
In 1866 Benjamin Henry, angered over what he believed was inadequate compensation, attempted to have the Connecticut legislature award ownership of New Haven Arms to him. Oliver Winchester, hastening back from Europe, forestalled the move and reorganized New Haven Arms yet again as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.[2] Winchester had the basic design of the Henry rifle completely modified and improved to become the first Winchester rifle, the Model 1866, which fired the same .44 caliber rimfire cartridges as the Henry but had an improved magazine (with the addition of a loading gate on the right side of the receiver, invented by Winchester employee Nelson King) and, for the first time, a wooden forend. The Henry and the 1866 Winchester shared a unique double firing pin which struck the head of the rimfire cartridge in two places when the weapon was fired, increasing the chances that the fulminate in the hollow rim would ignite the 28 or so grains of black powder inside the case.[citation needed]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wincheste ... ms_Company
As the story unfolds, Winchester goes through a long history of ups and downs, and finally declining to where "on January 16, 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms announced it was closing its New Haven plant where Winchester rifles and shotguns had been produced for 140 years.[6] Along with the closing of the plant, production of the Model 94 rifle (the descendant of the original Winchester rifle), Model 70 rifle and Model 1300 shotgun were discontinued. The official press release sent out by U.S. Repeating Arms concerning the closure was released January 17, 2006."
Fast forward to today. We owe a tremendous amount of thanks to Louis and Anthony Imperato who in 1996 founded the Henry Repeating Arms Company who resuscitated the Henry rifle and did so with unsurpassed quality. And of special importance, all made in America. While one might think that "right" belonged to Winchester, it is clear that Winchester was/is in no organizational shape to do this. Every once in a while, I'll read a post from some people who seem to criticize the Henry Repeating Arms company for what amounts to being imposters (even though they may not use that term). These "purests" need to familiarize themselves with the history and become grateful for what IS available to us firearms enthusiasts, not for opportunities lost.