During the 70's while sitting around the camp fire a frequent topic of discussion, sometimes heated, involved what particular rifles were really the Mountain Man's favorite. During this time just about everyone was convinced that the Hawken rained supreme but when discussing the earlier years, pre 1835, names such as Krider, Leman. Gumph, and Tyron were seldom if ever mentioned. Another name we were blissfully unaware of was John Joseph and later his son James Henry. So much has been learned and documented today that these names should be common knowledge, but unfortunately aren't.
JJ Henry and his son J Henry operated a prosperous gun building firm that was really more factory than shop in Boulton, PA. During the 1820's-50's they were one of the primary suppliers of trade rifles to the American Fur Company and others that traded to both Indian tribes and free trappers as well as being issued to their own hunters and trappers.
Below is a rifle I just finished that used the J. Henry "Lancaster" or "American" style as an inspiration as it is not an exact bench copy. Customer had a few special requests but it generally conforms to a J. Henry trade rifle of the pre 1830 style that would have been available.
JJ Henry and his son J Henry operated a prosperous gun building firm that was really more factory than shop in Boulton, PA. During the 1820's-50's they were one of the primary suppliers of trade rifles to the American Fur Company and others that traded to both Indian tribes and free trappers as well as being issued to their own hunters and trappers.
Below is a rifle I just finished that used the J. Henry "Lancaster" or "American" style as an inspiration as it is not an exact bench copy. Customer had a few special requests but it generally conforms to a J. Henry trade rifle of the pre 1830 style that would have been available.
