Private Purchase Henry Rifles

[56spencer]

Greetings,

I have read a couple different sources but still have a question or two regarding privately-purchased Henry rifles. Would such rifles, at any point of time, been equipped with sling swivels as found on the rifles purchased by the U.S. government? Any insights regarding this topic will be greatly appreciated.

In advance, thank you for the time and attention given this inquiry.

Kevin Bender
The Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kamerad!

"Would such rifles, at any point of time, been equipped with sling swivels as found on the rifles purchased by the U.S. government?"

Henry sling swivels were considered "optional equipment" (and were produced for New Haven Arms Company by their "neighbors," Colt).

Being "private purchase," the buyer could order them if they so wished.

I was trying to find a clear image of the famous 7th Illinois color guard grouping as theirs appear to not have slings... ;-)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[56spencer]

I've have that photo of the 7th Illinois color guard in one of my books (at home) and I don't recall seeing any sling swivels on their Henrys. Thanks for the reply and the info about swivels being an option.

Take Care,

Kevin Bender

[44 Henry]

It is interesting to note that the option of adding a sling mount was offered at a $2.00 price prior to May of 1863. However since it seems that many of those purchasing Henry Rifles wanted this option, Winchester changed the policy. In a May 4, 1863 letter he stated that henceforth all standard production Henry rifles were to be equipped with sling swivels. This information comes from a copy of a collection of letters entitled “New Haven Arms Co., Letter Book located at the McCracken Research Library at the Cody Firearms Museum. Sling swivels were very common. Also of interest is what side were the sling swivels located? There are examples of Henry Rifles I have examined that have the sling swivel located on either the right or the left side. So it appears that there is no “correct” side for the sling swivel to be located. The famous picture of the 7th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry show mostly the right side of the Henry of all rifles pictured so if the sling swivels were mounted on the left side they would not show up. By the way another interesting side note is the dog’s name in the picture, he was named “Jeff Davis”
Andrew L. Bresnan
National Henry Rifle Company
7th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry
66th Illinois Infantry WSS
ICSS

[Spencer Guy]

Perhaps sling swivels on the right side was an after market gunsmithing action and not done at the factory. I don’t know if there is any way to determine this for sure.
Terry

[44 Henry]

Terry,
More than likely the possiblity is that when the person ordered their Henry rifle they would indicate which side they wanted the sling swivels on. There are more cases of the swivels on the left side than right side at least that is what the photographic evidence seems to indicate.

Henry Information: http://www.44henryrifle.webs.com/

Andrew L. Bresnan
National Henry Rifle Company
7th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry
66th Illinois Infantry WSS
ICSS

[Dutchman Dick]

How possible is it that the "reversed" swivels is simply a result of the "mirror imaging" that one sometimes got from early photography? IIRC, I think tintypes and/or Ambrotypes had this characteristic. Which is why so many people think, from the one known photo of William Bonney (AKA "Billy the Kid"), that he was left handed (a careful look at the picture shows that the loading gate on his '73 Winchester is on the "wrong side").

[sf46]

I know of several reenactors who use Henry Rifles, who do so as Union. I've never seen or heard of anyone reenacting Confederate while armed with a Henry. I always figured this was because few if any were actually used by Confederates except for any that might have been captured.

I stumbled across this link: http://www.rarewinchesters.com/articles/art_hen_07.shtml which lists a few Confederate (mostly cavalry units) that were equipped (at least in part) with Henrys. Does anyone know if this information is correct or exaggerated? If it is correct would it lend any basis (without looking like a total f*rb) for a reenactor wanting to do a Confederate impression with a Henry?

[Dutchman Dick]

Now, here's a question of my own. Are there any recorded instances of ordinary enlisted infantrymen being armed with privately purchased, non-standard longarms, particularly Henries? I know Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham offered current-issue military arms for private sale, as well as non-standard stuff.

I'm not talking officers, who were often more well-to-do than the average enlisted man. I'm just wondering if, say, there are any known cases of an enlisted man carrying, for example, a Smith carbine, Sharps, or Henry rifle in a unit that was armed mostly with muzzle-loaders.

[Garrett Silliman]

I am not familiar of a single soldier making such a purchase, but there are cases of units privately purchasing such weapons en masse. One well known case from the Atlanta and Savannah Campaigns are the men of the 66th Illinois who opted to purchase Henry rifles at their own expense. The men were originally formed in St. Louis as a Sharpshooter organization and were later designated as the 66th. They were used with great regularity as skirmishers in the Georgia campaigns of 64'.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Rare...

One example was Truman Head, a 42 year old Glod Rusher who enlisted in Company "C," 1st US Sharpshooters in September of 1861. Head was also nicknamed "California Joe."

In October of 1861, he "privately purchased" a Sharps NM1859 rifle with double set triggers and sabre bayonet from a Colt company sales rep.

This was prior to the Sharpshooteres getting Sharps Berdan Contract NM1859 Sharps Rifles in May/June of 1862.

Failing health, and declining eyes led to Head's discharge in November of 1862.

Of course, Sharps' cartridges were increasingly fairly common to be had due to increasing numbers of cavalrymen (and some infantry) being so armed, but it is not known what special arrangements were needed or how how Head hot his Sharps ammo prior to the summer of 1862.

Which brings up a point about individual lads having radically different ammunition needs than the rest of their companies or even regiments- and what a nightmare that was for resupply and the timely getting of special or one-of-a-kind ammo to the "front."

Curt