OOPS!! A hole in the side of my Henry!!

[Coffinmaker]

Well Gents, I went and did it.
  I blew a hole right thru the side of my "1 of only 2" in the country, 16 inch barrel, Henry Trapper in .45 Colt.  It was some ugly.  I did discover though, when cleaned up, a Kings Patent loading gate assembly fit in the hole perfectly!!!  Imagine that!!!  I now have TWO Henry Transitional rifles and one is a TRAPPER.  Incredible!!!  Neat too.  That little gun is an absolute kick in the keester to shoot at a match!!

Wheeeeee!!!

Coffinmaker

[Henry4440]

Did you make some pics?Would be interesting.
 

[Coffinmaker]

I've never looked into how to post photos!!!  I guess I need to learn that secret.

Working on it.

Coffinmaker

[Advertising]

[Major 2]

Imagine that!!!   

If you can email the photo I'll post it

[Steel Horse Bailey]

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I did discover though, when cleaned up, a Kings Patent loading gate assembly fit in the hole perfectly!!!  Imagine that!!!  I now have TWO Henry Transitional rifles and one is a TRAPPER.  Coffinmaker

Cool!   And which King's Patent loading gate would that be?  The one they are putting in the Taylors Transitional or one like you find on the 1866?

[Flint]

If you open up the sideplate and install a 66 loading gate (spoon) don't you also need a 66 lifter to accept the side introduced round?

If you use a 66 magazine follower (rather than cutting up the Henry one) you won't have to do the "Henry Hop" when shooting it.  I would keep the original follower so it could be re-installed for front loading if desired......

[Coffinmaker]

OK, here goes .......
Grizzly, 
I went with the "original" Kings Patent gate, as is OEM on their "improved Henry."  It was actually the easiest to fit and required the least modification.  Still a bit of a job.  I was some shaky sweaty when I attacked the rifle with the hack saw .............. no replacement if I screwed it up.  It's a real sweet heart now.
Flint,
You could open the side plate and install a '66 ladle, but, there is more machine work involved than using the gate for the Taylors Rifle.  the '66 lifter could also be used, but it isn't flat on the bottom.  Doesn't look at all right.  Henry Carrier Block needs to be heavily modified to work as a side loader (I copied the one in my Taylors transitional).  The '66 follower won't work,  You have to have a "stop" for the follower.  There is no shoulder to stop the follower in the Henry frame, so the spring just spits the follower into the carrier block (don't ask how I found that out ).  Your stuck cutting the thumb button off the Henry follower (leave enough stub for a stop) and using it.  I did order another Henry follower from VTI but I don't expect to ever run the rifle as other than a Transitional.
I also modified the carrier to run .45 "Squirt" so the magazine now runs a full 10 rounds for match play.  This little rifle is hoot to play with.  With 10 rounds, and no Henry "hop" it is a kick at a match.

You really have to be seriously nuts to do this mod on the fly.  There is a lot of receiver to remove and if you get it wrong ............. I don't even want to think about that part.  I musta been knutz!!  I'll figgure ouot how to post pix.  Its a neat little gun (it's still heavy, it's a Henry!!).

Coffinmaker

[Grizzly Adams]

Most excellent, Sir!   I am surprised that the King's patent OEM gate is available.  That is encouraging, as it may mean that they are committed to making many more of these interesting variations!

I wish they would just get the T model out in 44-40.  I will never understand why the first release in some many of cowboy/traditional arms is in 45LC.  I have nothing against the 45, but 44WCF has a nicer or traditional ring to it!

Thanks for the post.

[Coffinmaker]

Grizzly,

I don't know about general availability of the original Kings Patent gate.  It took 7 months begging and pleading to get one.  I don't actually think it is available as a "part" yet.  I guess if your enough of a "pest" .............. Heck, I may never be able to get another one!!
But I do agree.  It's nice to see some of the "lesser" examples of the old guns.
I think the only reason for .45s to be "first" is there are a lot more .45 Colt shooters out here.  I don't personally shoot 44-40 but ...... if I was shooting the Holy Black, 44-40 or 38-40 is the best choice.  There are a couple of .44 Special Henry barrels left at Uberti, and I'm thinking of becoming a "pest" again to get a .44 Special CCH iron frame made up.  Shoot .44 Russian thru it.
Playing with guns is FUN!!!

Coffinmaker

[Long Johns Wolf]

Yes Coffinmaker. Go for it, be a pest in the proverbial .... of Giacomo Merlino at Uberti's and get a steel frame Henry in .44 Special. I love mine and feed it with a constant diet of .44 Colt only.
Would love to hear about your experience how the the Henry action likes the stubby .44 Russians. Couldn't get neither my .44 Special nor my converted .44 Colt Henry to cycle these shorter rounds reliably. But I never really followed that idea through as a project.
Bootsie

[Coffinmaker]

Bootsie,

There are two ways to get .44 Russian to feed thru a Henry.  First method is to extensively modify the Carrier Block.  You have to cut a rebate in the magazine face of the Breach Block and then move the cartridge return ramp back.  It is an extensive mod.  Second method is to drill and tap the side of the carrier block for a set screw to function as a cartridge stop.  You cut a matching slot in the side of the breach block to clear the set screw.  I do suggest having a spare Carrier Block or Breach block handy ......... just in case ...........

Coffinmaker

[Grizzly Adams]

There are a couple of .44 Special Henry barrels left at Uberti, and I'm thinking of becoming a "pest" again to get a .44 Special CCH iron frame made up.  Shoot .44 Russian thru it.
Playing with guns is FUN!!!

Coffinmaker

  

Hey, good luck on those 44 specials.  I know a couple of fellas that would die for a Henry in 44 Spl.!

[Long Johns Wolf]

Coffinmaker: thanks for the additional info regarding the Henry conversion from .44 Special to .44 Russian. I guess I'll pass on this  one for the time being after you mentioned I should have a spare carrier block handy, with my two left hands you know...
Actually I am happy shooting .44 Colt through her. Since I can load 15 into the tube, cycle them through the unmodified action AND learnt that the original Henry did also hold 15 rounds of .44 Henry only...that's a lot of firepower for the lady.
But I would like to qualify my yesterdays' remarks regarding Uberti. I always found them very friendly, responsive and cooperative when it came to special order guns provided parts are available. In this case .44 caliber (.429) Henry barrels with .44 Special chambers. After talking to Giacomo Merlino about my steel Henry in .44 Special "all in black" it was just a few weeks til I got her, via their German distributor HEGE.
Grizzly Adams: I am certain Uberti would gladly assemble some more .44 Special caliber Henrys with steel frame at short notice for their US Henry aficionados, provided there are pre-chambered barrels left. But you probably need to place firm orders through one of their US importers/distributors?!
Bootsie

[Dusty Morningwood]

 

Hey, good luck on those 44 specials.  I know a couple of fellas that would die for a Henry in 44 Spl.!

I sent my Henry to Happy Trails (I understand he is on the mend) and he sleeved the chamber from .44-40 to .44 spl.  Goes great with my 66 and OTs in same.  Cost about $200 incl. S&H.  Well worth it!