So I'm Reading This Book (Rifle ID Help)

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I like Westerns, especially those from the pre-metallic cartridge period. Inherited a couple sacks from my grandpa before he died. Unfortunately my aunt threw the rest of them out, not knowing that I was supposed to get them. There were literally thousands in paper bags.

Anyway, I'm reading one for about the fifth time. It intrigues me for some reason. The main character reminds me a bit of myself. On top of that, the weapons mentioned are not your average 1873 Peacemakers, or even mostly Colts. The author mentions several that I've had to research myself to figure out what they are, and this is something I welcome.

However, I can't figure one out. The author states that the main character possesses "two big Walkers he carried in holsters on his saddle... Henry rifle and the double-barreled shotgun... twin-holstered Colt Dragoons..."

The author goes on to describe each of these weapons in great detail, as well as describing the main character cleaning them thoroughly after each time he fired it.

The Henry is described thus: "On the right side (of the saddle was) a scabbard holding a Henry percussion rifle; and on the left was one encasing a double-barreled 10-gauge shotgun."

My question is about the Henry. Later in the book, he makes it abundantly clear that the Henry is indeed a single-shot percussion rifle. The main character checks the cap before each use, and is hesitant to use it against a gang of outlaws because he'd have to reload and would only get one or two.

I can only find reference to Henry Arms having manufactured repeaters. Nothing in the way of muzzleloaders, or even single-shot breech loading paper cartridge rifles.

It's definitely a muzzleloader though.

If it were a gun ignorant author, I'd dismiss it as a goof. But the other guns, even the obscure ones, are described in such detail as to make me think a goof to be unlikely.

The name of the book is

Saddle Tramp: Gold and Lead and was written by Clint Hawkins, with a first printing in January 1993.

If anyone can help me identify the rifle he's describing - preferably with a picture - I would be grateful. As of right now, I'm having trouble not picturing it as a Goldenboy with a ramrod where the magazine should be! :idunno:

Thank you very much,

Josh

 

[MikeChapin]

It's probably a Henry Trade Rifle. Henry made a bunch during the fur trade era and beyond, mostly for the indian trade. There were three styles over the years but they were basically a flint, plain rifle in .54. A person using one nowdays would actually shoot a more authentic piece than a Hawken.

The one the hero was using was probably percussion conversion on a flinter. Don't know if they made percussion rifles on the originals.

 

[Enfield1]

The only thing that I could find that appears to be close to what you are reading is a manufacturer named "J. Henry and Son". On the internet I did a google search and found an antique rifle for sale with this maker stamped on the top flat of the barrel. I would send you the link, but I am not sure how to do that. The picture showed what appeared to be a "standard" plains style half-stock percussion rifle of .58 caliber. "J. Henry and Son" also apparently made a small number of military percussion rifle muskets for use in the Civil War. Hope this helps.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Sounds like the kind of book I would want to read too!

 

[Dphar]

No relation to B. Tyler Henry of "Henry" breechloader fame SFAIK. "Henry" was a big name in American Firearms long before B. Tyler was born.


Henry made a lot of FL rifles for the Western fur trade before it folded. Boulton Gun Works, Boulton, PA. Lots of Mt Men likely carried them at one time or another. Good sound rifles with best quality locks. Fur companies would accept nothing less.
See "Firearms of the American West 1803-1865" Garavaglia and Worman and others.
Its hard to read about pre-Civil War western firearms and not find their mention.


Dan