I just received a copy of this book and it's an excellent historic source for people like us who enjoy shooting or collecting Henry rifles. There are some really nice color photos, including pictures of some old timers posing with their Henry. The book can be purchased from Mowbray Publishing. One thing I found interesting is that there isn't a forearm on these rifles. I'm guessing they must have worn leather gloves to keep themselves from burning their hands on the barrel (maybe there's something in the book about it). This rifle is getting me interested the Civil War again. I need to take another trip to Gettysburg this summer. ~BRA book by Wiley Sword.
Wiley Sword has shown us that good arms books can come in small packages with his work on the Henry Rifle. In the first three parts of the volume the author takes the reader through the inception of the weapon, marketing and combat service.
Oliver Winchester and the New Haven Arms Company had great plans for B. Tyler Henry’s concept of a rapid fire .44 metallic cartridge weapon that could give the user firepower never before seen on the battlefield. Winchester, however, was faced with numerous problems in production, frustrations with the government, sales, and even an explosion in the cartridge factory.
After many setbacks the Henry began to see service with the western Union armies and the material dealing with its field use will be most interesting to the reader.
Sword gives extensive coverage to the use of the Henry by such units as the 1st D.C. Cavalry and the 66th Illinois. Many rifles were obtained by private purchase. The combat value far outdistanced the cost and the soldiers gladly put up the required amount. Since they owned the firearms a large number came home with the men when they were mustered out after the war.
More than 600 Henrys were also used to arm the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry. Government criticism continued to plague the manufacturer as well as problems with the cartridge, parts, breakage and field use damages. New Haven Arms Company did learn from its wartime mistakes and following a series of improvements the postwar Winchester became the successful weapon we know today.
This book is filled with important data that is connected to the rifle and its use. At the end of Part III there are tables on expended Henry rounds by western troops, known serial numbers of rifles carried by the 66th Illinois and ammunition reports for the 66th Illinois.
.44 caliber Henry Repeating Rifle bullets with partial hulls still attached.Appendices cover such areas as estimated Henry production by serial numbers, government purchases, serial numbers reported by the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteers, historically identified Henrys, comments on the iron frame Henry, and production configurations of the Henry. A transcript of the U.S. Government 1864 trials is also included.
The Historic Henry Rifle has numerous black and white photographs as well as an eight-page color section. The text is well written and the paper quality will take a lot of use by the collector, researcher or general reader. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in this unique weapon.
Dale E. Biever
Dale E. Biever received his M.Ed. in American history from Kutztown University. He is Governor and Vice President for Administration of the Company of Military Historians. A retired educa-tor, he was registrar at the Civil War Library and Museum in Philad
