Henry Rifle

Description:

Physical Description

Henry rifle Model 1860, .44 caliber.

General History

The Henry rifle was the immediate forerunner of the famous Winchester rifles. About 14,000 Henrys were made between 1860 and 1866 by the New Haven Arms Company. The Henry rifle was developed from the Volcanic firearms system and was built around the .44 rimfire cartridge. Both the new rifle and the cartridge were designed by B. Tyler Henry. A basic feature of the .44 rimfire cartridge was the use of a metallic casing rather than the undependable, self-contained powder, ball, and primer of the Volcanic bullet. Evidence indicates that the Indians at Little Big Horn had a large number of Henry rifles, while the army was armed with the single-shot breech-loading Springfield Model 1873.

Patentee: Henry, Benjamin TylerManufacturer: New Haven Arms Company

Place Made: United StatesAssociated Place: United States

Subject: FirearmsRelated Event: Expansion and Reform

Subject:

See more items in: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military, Military, ThinkFinity

Exhibition: Price of Freedom

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AF.32813Catalog Number: 32813Accession Number: 69413

Object Name: rifleOther Terms: rifle; Firearms; Rim Fire; .44 In; Rifled; 05; 05; 03

Physical Description: steel (overall material)wood (overall material)brass (overall material)Measurements: overall: 8 in x 44 in x 1 1/2 in; 20.32 cm x 111.76 cm x 3.81 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-e48f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_414668

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