Parts Recommendation for JJ Henry Build
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Well as you know JJ Henry ran a small factory and made a wide variety of guns over a long period of time. If you could specify what sort of JJ Henry rifle you are looking to build, we could help you find parts. It’s unlikely there’s a complete parts set with a precarved stock, however.
I suggest buying “For Trade and Treaty” by Ryan Gale. Soft cover and inexpensive.
There’s a J Henry Lancaster pattern percussion rifle in it and a Lancaster pattern flintlock in the book. Keep in mind the variations were endless so replicating a barrel or lock precisely matters most when reproducing one specific rifle. Some shopping around would be required.
There’s also a J Henry English pattern rifle in the book. I like this for a rugged gun. The thick cast patchbox can be sourced from The Rifle Shoppe. Other parts here and there.
For any of these builds, starting with a blank with the barrel inletted may be your best option.
There’s a J Henry Lancaster pattern percussion rifle in it and a Lancaster pattern flintlock in the book. Keep in mind the variations were endless so replicating a barrel or lock precisely matters most when reproducing one specific rifle. Some shopping around would be required.
There’s also a J Henry English pattern rifle in the book. I like this for a rugged gun. The thick cast patchbox can be sourced from The Rifle Shoppe. Other parts here and there.
For any of these builds, starting with a blank with the barrel inletted may be your best option.
There’s an outfit that makes some J Henry rifles. I don’t know them or their reputation.
Last but not least The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - US Arms - J. Henry English Pattern Trade Rifle (651). Whether they have parts in stock or not is unknown.
Last but not least The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - US Arms - J. Henry English Pattern Trade Rifle (651). Whether they have parts in stock or not is unknown.
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single trigger,4 piece patchbox, swamped barrel, a Chambers Late Ketland lock is close enough these rifles were not all the same and not fancy as a rule. I started on this a few years ago and this is what ended up with. Mine is a Late Lancaster model or close to it.D
You might check with Larry Walker at JJ Henry Artificiers. He's done the research and probably knows more about JJ Henry rifles than most. He surely makes purty reproductiond of them and he may well be the only source for some parts. I know he makes some of them for his own use, and his rifles are duplicates of ones in the Museum Of The Fur Trade and the AMM Museum. His website is: https://jjhenryartificers.com/ Tell him Tanglefoot said "Howdy" if you would, please.
I took in a broken stock original JJ Henry rifle some time ago. Still sitting in my shop. Any interest?
plmeek
40 Cal.
Rich Pierce and Rusty have given you some good advice. If I may, I'd like to elaborate some on their points.
J. Joseph Henry and his son, James, appear to have made as many or more rifles for the civilian market than they did for the American Fur Company and other Indian trading companies. A big market for his small bore rifles was the South. So there is a wide variety in style and ornamentation of JJ and J Henry rifles out there.
For the AFC, they made four different patterns.
We're not positive what the American pattern looked like, but suspect it may have been the style with a slight curvature in the butt stock similar to what some call the Philadelphia School of rifles made by JJ Henry, Henry Deringer, George Tryon, and others. Both JJ Henry and Henry Deringer were born, grew up, and likely did their apprenticeship in the Lehigh Valley and carried some of that architecture to Philadelphia.
The picture below shows an English pattern rifle on top, a New English or Scroll Guard pattern in the middle, and the Lancaster pattern at bottom.
Some of the fur companies would order rifles that mixed elements of these patterns. Scroll Guard rifles were sometimes ordered with Lancaster patch boxes for instance. Jim Gordon has in his collection a rifle with the Lancaster patch box, a scroll guard, and the six-inch lock normally used on the English pattern rifle. It's a blend of all three (see below).
Rich Pierce mentioned a couple of Henry rifles pictured in Ryan Gale's For Trade and Treaty. The rifle beginning on page 95 may be similar to the American pattern that Henry made for the AFC.
I have an early "JJ Henry/Phila" marked rifle that was made before J. Joseph started making rifles for the AFC. It also could be similar to the American pattern in all respects except for maybe the patch box (see below).
But the classic JJ Henry Lancaster Pattern Trade Rifle is probably best represented by the specimen in the Museum of the Fur Trade collection.
Back to the OP's original question, "I have the lock but would like a recommendation for barrel and stock and the best place to purchase."
You say you have the lock but don't mention what it is. Without question, the most authentic lock is the one cast from an original that The Rifle Shoppe sells.
The locks on trade rifles were robust, sturdy locks designed to withstand hard use in territory where professional gunsmiths weren't available for repairs. In the period that the Henrys made trade rifles for the AFC, the breasted cock was predominate. Some people call it a "pigeon" cock because its shape resembles the neck and breast of a pigeon.
Rusty mentioned the Chambers Late Ketland lock. The tail of this lock should be filed round for an 1830s lock. The body of the cock can be filed some to give a little more "breasted" look like below. The pan is still a little different than the trade rifle lock, but not many people will notice that detail.
For the barrel, Rice Barrels make a "J.J. Henry" profile that I would recommend.
Rich provided a link to The Rifle Shoppe's part set for the English and New English (Scroll Guard) trade rifles. Below is a picture of the parts for their Scroll Guard.
The butt plate on the Scroll Guard and the Lancaster patterns are the same. Same for the side plate and ramrod pipes. The Rifle Shoppe trigger guard for their English pattern may be ok for a Lancaster pattern trade rifle. I can't remember the details about the guard when I was in their shop looking at the sets.
For the stock, I plan on starting with a stock blank. I suppose you could get a pre-carve for a late Lancaster rifle from one of the many stock providers, but you just want it rough shaped with no inlets and if you have the barrel channel cut, make sure it is undersize to fit the waist dimension of the barrel of your choice. If you get a stock from David Keck at Knob Mountain Muzzleloading and send him your barrel, he can cut the barrel channel to exactly match your barrel profile.
Tanglefoot mentioned Larry Walker at JJ Henry Artificiers. I agree with Tanglefoots assessment of their rifles. I have one of their Old English rifles. A couple of people that I referred to him were told that he is only building a limited number of rifles and is way backlogged and not taking new orders. I don't think he sells parts separately, either. Things might have changed so may be worth checking with him.
Good luck on your build.
J. Joseph Henry and his son, James, appear to have made as many or more rifles for the civilian market than they did for the American Fur Company and other Indian trading companies. A big market for his small bore rifles was the South. So there is a wide variety in style and ornamentation of JJ and J Henry rifles out there.
For the AFC, they made four different patterns.
- American Pattern
- Lancaster Pattern
- English Pattern
- New English or Scroll Guard Pattern
We're not positive what the American pattern looked like, but suspect it may have been the style with a slight curvature in the butt stock similar to what some call the Philadelphia School of rifles made by JJ Henry, Henry Deringer, George Tryon, and others. Both JJ Henry and Henry Deringer were born, grew up, and likely did their apprenticeship in the Lehigh Valley and carried some of that architecture to Philadelphia.
The picture below shows an English pattern rifle on top, a New English or Scroll Guard pattern in the middle, and the Lancaster pattern at bottom.
Some of the fur companies would order rifles that mixed elements of these patterns. Scroll Guard rifles were sometimes ordered with Lancaster patch boxes for instance. Jim Gordon has in his collection a rifle with the Lancaster patch box, a scroll guard, and the six-inch lock normally used on the English pattern rifle. It's a blend of all three (see below).
Rich Pierce mentioned a couple of Henry rifles pictured in Ryan Gale's For Trade and Treaty. The rifle beginning on page 95 may be similar to the American pattern that Henry made for the AFC.
I have an early "JJ Henry/Phila" marked rifle that was made before J. Joseph started making rifles for the AFC. It also could be similar to the American pattern in all respects except for maybe the patch box (see below).
But the classic JJ Henry Lancaster Pattern Trade Rifle is probably best represented by the specimen in the Museum of the Fur Trade collection.
Back to the OP's original question, "I have the lock but would like a recommendation for barrel and stock and the best place to purchase."
You say you have the lock but don't mention what it is. Without question, the most authentic lock is the one cast from an original that The Rifle Shoppe sells.
The locks on trade rifles were robust, sturdy locks designed to withstand hard use in territory where professional gunsmiths weren't available for repairs. In the period that the Henrys made trade rifles for the AFC, the breasted cock was predominate. Some people call it a "pigeon" cock because its shape resembles the neck and breast of a pigeon.
Rusty mentioned the Chambers Late Ketland lock. The tail of this lock should be filed round for an 1830s lock. The body of the cock can be filed some to give a little more "breasted" look like below. The pan is still a little different than the trade rifle lock, but not many people will notice that detail.
For the barrel, Rice Barrels make a "J.J. Henry" profile that I would recommend.
Rich provided a link to The Rifle Shoppe's part set for the English and New English (Scroll Guard) trade rifles. Below is a picture of the parts for their Scroll Guard.
The butt plate on the Scroll Guard and the Lancaster patterns are the same. Same for the side plate and ramrod pipes. The Rifle Shoppe trigger guard for their English pattern may be ok for a Lancaster pattern trade rifle. I can't remember the details about the guard when I was in their shop looking at the sets.
For the stock, I plan on starting with a stock blank. I suppose you could get a pre-carve for a late Lancaster rifle from one of the many stock providers, but you just want it rough shaped with no inlets and if you have the barrel channel cut, make sure it is undersize to fit the waist dimension of the barrel of your choice. If you get a stock from David Keck at Knob Mountain Muzzleloading and send him your barrel, he can cut the barrel channel to exactly match your barrel profile.
Tanglefoot mentioned Larry Walker at JJ Henry Artificiers. I agree with Tanglefoots assessment of their rifles. I have one of their Old English rifles. A couple of people that I referred to him were told that he is only building a limited number of rifles and is way backlogged and not taking new orders. I don't think he sells parts separately, either. Things might have changed so may be worth checking with him.
Good luck on your build.
Thanks for all of the input. I’m leaning towards the parts from The Rifle Shoppe. Since the time frame I’m looking for is early 1800’s I think the brass hardware in the English Pattern ( not New English Pattern ) may be my best bet.
When working with TRS I call to see what is and what is not in stock. Then I tell them whether I’m willing to take what they have and forge ahead of not. Because of their extensive number of models of guns it’s hard for them to have everything in stock. Deliveries of things not in stock are unpredictable.
