Seeking Info on Henry Big Boy

[Idiot]

I have been looking for an article on the Henry Big Boy rifle that describes, in detail, its action and locking mechanism. The only articles I've found say the same thing, after wasting two thirds of their words on history and comparisons to unrelated early Henry rifles, they say; "it's heavy so recoil is light," "the action is slick," "it digested all the factory ammo we fed it," "it's accurate," "fit in finish is good but the wood is proud," "brass can be as strong as steel," generalities after generalities taken straight from the Henry brochure.

I am interested in this firearm, but would like to read some details. Did Rifle Magazine ever do a piece on the rifle? Anyway, if you know of any articles beyond the usual fluff, please let me know where I can find it. Thanks.

[Rick-F]

Here is a review . . .

http://www.chuckhawks.com/henry_big_boy_rifles.htm

[Idiot]

Thanks Rick-F. I'd read that article previously. It has some detail, but is still a little light. But thanks for the lead.

[J Miller]

Idiot,

I can't recommend any articles, but from the one I looked at, the internals, carrier, lever and every thing else I could see is almost pure Marlin.

Joe

[Race]

I've got a Henry Big Boy in .44Mag. Very smooth operating. The only thing I didn't like was that the ejection was weak. I sent the gun back to henry and had them beef it up. I did the same thing with my Golden boy. As I bought my Big Boy when they first came out, it might be something they've addressed by now.

[Hagler]

Idiot,

The action looks like a Marlin's, but I have never had one apart. The Henry's transfer bar slides up & down in a recess in the front face of the hammer. It is nice to see a tranfer bar that is not just flopping around between the hammer & the reciever. ...although, I prefer NO transfer bar...

Shawn

[Leverdude]

Transfer bars better than a button.
I'm not a huge Henry fan, tho I bought my kid one of their 22's & I cant find fault with it. I like it alot actually. I just dislike their deceptive marketing.
Its pretty ammusing tho that they could figure out a way to make a lever action safer without buttons & switches but the big names couldn't.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

The Big boy is basically a marlin 336 action without a loading port. The receiver is some kind of brass but harder and is somewhat magnetic. I know this because I D&T-ed one for a tang sight and the chips were brass in color but attracted to the magnet. I don't care for the front heavy feel caused by the twin mag tube loading. but if you don't mind it the Henry customer support is unmatched.

[Idiot]

The Big boy is basically a marlin 336 action without a loading port. The receiver is some kind of brass but harder and is somewhat magnetic. I know this because I D&T-ed one for a tang sight and the chips were brass in color but attracted to the magnet. I don't care for the front heavy feel caused by the twin mag tube loading. but if you don't mind it the Henry customer support is unmatched.

It sounds like steel with yellow coloring to me. Well if one were going to crib a design, the M336 is a good one. And I do like the transfer bar idea far more than any external safety.

Thanks guys for all the info. I've got two leverguns on my "must buy" list for 2009. The Big Boy is one of them. Again, thanks.

[JohndeFresno]

These magazine links might help -
http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_re ... index.html
http://www.henryrepeating.com/bigboy-guntests.cfm
http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com/rev ... /1858.html

Instruction Manual:
http://www.henryrepeating.com/pdf/henry_bigboy.pdf
If you don't have the free Adobe Reader software to allow you to save the above file directly to your computer and then read/print it later, go to:
http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/
...and then select "Download Adobe Reader" from the menu on the left side, for installation on your computer.

[Idiot]

Thank you JohndeFresno for the links. I'd read the articles before, but I had not read the owners manaul. The exploded view page with all of the exposed parts answered a lot of questions. Thanks again. Now I've got to decided which one I should buy first, the B92 or the Big Boy. This could be fun, fun.

[JohndeFresno]

My extreme pleasure, Idiot. Glad to be of help!

[Griff]

Welcome and Introduction
Thank you for purchasing your new Henry Lever Action Rifle. We are proud to have crafted this rifle for you in the great tradition of Henry Repeating Arms Company which dates back to 1860 when the first effective, lever-action repeating rifle was developed by our founder, Benjamin Tyler Henry. We go to great efforts to provide the highest quality of design, craftsmanship, manufacture and function that was established over 140 years ago.

(Emphasis added.)
The above two statements in their ads and as quoted from their owner's manual are, IMO, at best, misleading. But, their use IMO, sez they are deceptive and frankly, stole the history and legacy of fine weapons design, and the foundation of the leverguns we admire and love.

But, feel free.

On the plus side, they are made in the U.S. according to their advertising.