Northwoods Reporter

Two-hundred rifles for two-hundred years.

Henry Repeating Arms is honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Tyler Henry, who patented the first repeating rifle, by offering 200 modern replicas of the historic Henry rifle.

“This rifle is unique for a number of different reasons,” Henry Repeating Arms communications director Dan Clayton-Luce told Northwoods Reporter. “First, it is a line-for-line reproduction of B.T. Henry’s 1860 patent with the only difference being any concessions to accommodate the more modern .44-40 WCF cartridge. The original Henry rifle was chambered in .44 Henry, a large rimfire cartridge that is now extinct. Also, the genuine American walnut wood that we use for the butt-stocks on these rifles are among the finest you will ever see on a production rifle.

Image of B.T. Henry on the rifle

“Lastly this is the most exclusive rifle that we have ever manufactured with only 200 units available worldwide. Typically we will make at least 1,000 of our other limited-edition firearms, but we stuck with 200 for this release due to the obvious ties to the anniversary.”

Henry Repeating Arms produces rifles and shotguns. It was founded in 1996 by current company president Anthony Imperato and his late father, Lou.

The company has no direct affiliation with Benjamin Tyler Henry or to the New Haven Arms Company, which sold the original Henry rifle from 1862-64. Anthony Imperato secured the trademark to the Henry name in 1996.

“The first rifles bearing the Henry Repeating Arms roll-mark started shipping in March 1997,” Clayton-Luce said. “When the company first started, we were only shipping one model with the classic lever-action .22, and we now offer 200 different rifles and shotguns in many different calibers and finishes.”

Lou and Anthony Imperato thought honoring Benjamin Tyler Henry by naming their company after him was a way to establish their appreciation for the history of long guns, especially ones that are made with skill and precision.

“Benjamin Tyler Henry was a hard-working gunsmith and inventor with the New Haven Arms Company in Connecticut, which later folded into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company,” Clayton-Luce said. “He joins the ranks of names like Samuel Colt, Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson and Eugene Stoner as one of the most influential figures in American firearms history with his 1860 patent of the Henry rifle.”

The rifle, which was breech-loaded and held 16 44-caliber cartridges, played a key role in the North’s victory in the Civil War once it was in the hands of Union soldiers by 1862. It was a prized and effective weapon in the war as well as on both sides of later battles between U.S. Army forces and Native Americans.

Hunters also utilized them and a total of 15,000 were produced.

On the company website, Anthony Imperato says it’s a matter of honoring a historic achievement.

“The lever action rifle is one of America’s unique contributions to international firearms design, and we take a great deal of pride in carrying on Benjamin Tyler Henry’s legacy by making lever-action rifles and shotguns for the modern day on American soil,” Imperato said. “We are excited to release this rifle in honor of his 200th birthday, and we can’t wait to see them start showing up in the hands of our collectors.”

The modern company emulates his drive for excellence.

“From day one we have been committed to manufacturing quality lever-action firearms, a design that we owe entirely to B.T. Henry,” Clayton-Luce said. “The lever action is one of America’s unique contributions to international firearms design, and we take a great deal of pride in making ‘America's rifle’ on the American soil where it all started. It's incredible to think that his design is still very much alive and well today, so his 200th birthday is a great way for us to continue celebrating his legacy as a legend in our industry.”

He said Henry Repeating Arms customers know that when they work the lever on one of the company’s rifles or shotguns, they are carrying on a design and legacy that started back in the 1800s.

“Though it has been modernized over the years, the lever-action rifle is here to stay, and we're proud to be the leaders in this category,” he said.

The new original B.T. Henry 200th anniversary edition (model H011BTH) has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $4,286.