For about a year now I have had my eye on an 1860 original henry rifle by uberti. I saw one at wolverine and I have watched hickock45 shoot and review it. To me it just looks like it is so well made and the fit and finish is amazing. Anyone out there have any experience with it...own one? I would really like one in .45 colt. Also short barrel or long? I'm leaning towards the 24 inch with a brass receiver. Any input would be great.
1860 uberti.
- Thread starter colonelklink
- Start date
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
My wife bought me one 8 years ago and it is a gorgeous rifle. It's a 24" brass receiver in 44-40, you really can't go wrong with anything Uberti!
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
I have not owned a Uberti Henry rifle, but I have owned a Uberti 1866, 20" barrel short rifle in .45 Colt, which is very similar.
It just has a loading gate and a forearm, but it has almost the same brass receiver, with the same toggle action inside.
Externally and internally, these rifles are very finely machined, and have very well-fitted and finished stocks.
Mechanically, they work well feeding and extracting .45 Colt, and .45 Colt is a far better reloading proposition than .44-40, which has very thin brass cases.
Accuracy, as I recall was very good at 50 yards, on par with any typical pistol caliber carbine. A Henry might even be more accurate, due to the stiffer barrel, as a result of the magazine and barrel being machined as one solid unit.
The sights are typical 19th century open sights. Learn to embrace them and live with them. They work well if you believe that they will.
Unlike Marlin 1894 / 336 and Winchester 1894 lever actions, the Henry, 1866, and 1873 stocks have more drop, which takes a bit of getting used to. A holdover from muzzle-loading Plains rifles, I think, which perhaps works well with long heavy rifles and deeply crescent butt-plates.
Some things to consider with the Henry /1866 rifles is that while they are beautifully polished brass, they are an earlier design than the 1873 rifles.
As such, taking the side plates off is NOT something that you want to do if you can avoid it.
Unlike the 1873, these plates are held in place by not only the side-plate screw (with the 1866), but also the lever pivot screw.
While with the 1873 rifle you remove only a single screw and the plates easily drop off to access the inside of the receiver, with the Henry/1866 you must first slack off two screws securing heavy leaf springs under the receiver, and then remove the other screw(s).
Also, the sharp flush edges of the side plates must be carefully protected during installation and removal to prevent unsightly burrs.
Not a fun thing if you want to shoot black powder cartridges. The fouling loves to discolor the brass if not removed.
But, if all is well, and you shoot smokeless cartridges, you won't need to take it apart except occasionally for cleaning and lubrication. Also, since the toggle link area is sealed off from fouling, you can just use a spray-lube to keep things oiled inside.
Brass receivers and toggle link actions are of course fairly weak, so you should not exceed factory load strength, and cowboy strength ammo is best for the long haul.
While you like the Henry right now, you might want to take a look at the 1866 carbine. It's lighter and handier and the carbine butt-plate is IMHO friendlier to use, and it's just as period-correct with the same shiny brass receiver as the Henry. It's also very authentically cowboy for the late 1860s, the 1870s, and 1880s.
If you think that you might want to have more access to the frame for more frequent cleaning, then take acloser look at the Uberti 1873 carbine and rifle. Not as pretty, but more practical and also period-correct.
It just has a loading gate and a forearm, but it has almost the same brass receiver, with the same toggle action inside.
Externally and internally, these rifles are very finely machined, and have very well-fitted and finished stocks.
Mechanically, they work well feeding and extracting .45 Colt, and .45 Colt is a far better reloading proposition than .44-40, which has very thin brass cases.
Accuracy, as I recall was very good at 50 yards, on par with any typical pistol caliber carbine. A Henry might even be more accurate, due to the stiffer barrel, as a result of the magazine and barrel being machined as one solid unit.
The sights are typical 19th century open sights. Learn to embrace them and live with them. They work well if you believe that they will.
Unlike Marlin 1894 / 336 and Winchester 1894 lever actions, the Henry, 1866, and 1873 stocks have more drop, which takes a bit of getting used to. A holdover from muzzle-loading Plains rifles, I think, which perhaps works well with long heavy rifles and deeply crescent butt-plates.
Some things to consider with the Henry /1866 rifles is that while they are beautifully polished brass, they are an earlier design than the 1873 rifles.
As such, taking the side plates off is NOT something that you want to do if you can avoid it.
Unlike the 1873, these plates are held in place by not only the side-plate screw (with the 1866), but also the lever pivot screw.
While with the 1873 rifle you remove only a single screw and the plates easily drop off to access the inside of the receiver, with the Henry/1866 you must first slack off two screws securing heavy leaf springs under the receiver, and then remove the other screw(s).
Also, the sharp flush edges of the side plates must be carefully protected during installation and removal to prevent unsightly burrs.
Not a fun thing if you want to shoot black powder cartridges. The fouling loves to discolor the brass if not removed.
But, if all is well, and you shoot smokeless cartridges, you won't need to take it apart except occasionally for cleaning and lubrication. Also, since the toggle link area is sealed off from fouling, you can just use a spray-lube to keep things oiled inside.
Brass receivers and toggle link actions are of course fairly weak, so you should not exceed factory load strength, and cowboy strength ammo is best for the long haul.
While you like the Henry right now, you might want to take a look at the 1866 carbine. It's lighter and handier and the carbine butt-plate is IMHO friendlier to use, and it's just as period-correct with the same shiny brass receiver as the Henry. It's also very authentically cowboy for the late 1860s, the 1870s, and 1880s.
If you think that you might want to have more access to the frame for more frequent cleaning, then take acloser look at the Uberti 1873 carbine and rifle. Not as pretty, but more practical and also period-correct.
Last edited:
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
You make some great points, what I think you are really getting at is he should buy all 3 models!
I find the 73 SRC to feel the best of the three but the Henry just seems more historic. It really is a rifle worth owning.
I find the 73 SRC to feel the best of the three but the Henry just seems more historic. It really is a rifle worth owning.
Last edited:
The Henry, with its brass receiver and barrel shroud, is also a hefty gun. A '73 carbine is a bit better handling. Plus you've got some wood to hang onto.
Dust cover over the action as well.
That being said I really wanted the 1866 musket that Wolverine had. My wallet disagreed with me, however.
Dust cover over the action as well.
That being said I really wanted the 1866 musket that Wolverine had. My wallet disagreed with me, however.
You all make great points. This is exactly the feedback I was hoping for! Thanks all! I think I should have them all! But for now I just can't get that 1860 out of my head. I think it is the most beautiful rifle and I gotta have one. Certainly going for the 4t colt long barell. Then maybe an 1866. I just passed my red seal exam so I think it's time to celebrate! Thanks guys!
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Do it, you deserve it! If you're willing to go used you can get them around a grand.
Lonesome Donkey
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Alberta
Sure, go for the Henry.
The heart wants what the heart wants, and it's a great rifle.
Celebrate!
I have a Navy arms (Uberti) 66 win 44-40
I can lever off 10 rounds from the shoulder slick as poop through a goose.
I saw a beauty of a Henry at Prophet river the wood is amazing
http://store.prophetriver.com/search.php?search_query=henry&Submit=Search
I can lever off 10 rounds from the shoulder slick as poop through a goose.
I saw a beauty of a Henry at Prophet river the wood is amazing
http://store.prophetriver.com/search.php?search_query=henry&Submit=Search
- Location
- Lloydminster, Alberta
And the pics don't even to it justice!
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
They are actually reasonably priced for the new Henry too! Pretty close to the price of a new Uberti, might be worth looking at one of these instead. I love my 3 Uberti's but having a Henry that say Henry on it is a nice little bonus.
