Has Henry Taken the Crown From Winchester?

[Crazy Chaingun]

Was examining the Henry side-gate 30-30 recently, seems beautifully made, and listens to the demad for a rifle the tisn't limited to tube-loading. In the same weekend, was handing a .357 Magnum Mare's Leg, and the fit+finish was excellent.
I've been a Winchester guy since I was 13, but Henry keeps making exactly what the people want, from their Mare's Leg rifles, to single-shots, and now side-gate lever-actions.

Thoughts on this? I feel my allegiance shifting.

 

[FarmerDanz]

Same design as a marlin.

 

[Crazy Chaingun]

Same design as a marlin.

I love my 1894 SBL dearly, but Marlin has QC control baggage that I don't think Henry does (AR-7 design aside). Based on my limited research, Henry has a much better record for quality.

 

[trebor2880]

Winchester 94 30/30 pre '64, will always be the lever gun that all others will be judged by, IMO. You can maybe sneak the 32 Special in there, somewhere.

 

[terr92]

I recently picked up a Big Boy in 357. I am impressed. As others have stated the fit and finish is very good. I found the action to be smooth, and trigger very good. I also have a BLR WGM, and while the wood and finish is better than the Henry, the trigger on it is terrible.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Henry's are nice, but nothing carries & handles as good as a '94 Winchester.

 

[conor_90]

^ right because the '92 carries and handles better

 

[chasseur]

I have a Henry 410 lever and have had a win9410 and must say I prefer the Henry as it has a more solid feel to it the the winchester.That said I have a Miroku 1895 carbine and a miroku 73 SPorter and they are fantastic guns

 

[-Savage-]

Henry's are nice, but nothing carries & handles as good as a '94 Winchester.

^ right because the '92 carries and handles better

I agree. My pre-WWI '92 carries & handles better than my pre-64 '94 ... the '92 is a better levergun in every respect.

However the OP asked about a Henry vs. a Whinny ...
And my vote is for either a pre-64 Winchester, or a new Winchester 1892 Deluxe Octagon (2019 Shot Show Special).
Just like the new Model 70's made in Portugal are nothing short of excellent, so are the Winchester leverguns currently made in Japan.

-Dennis

 

[John Y Cannuck]

i agree. My pre-wwi '92 carries & handles better than my pre-64 '94 ... The '92 is a better levergun in every respect.

However the op asked about a henry vs. A whinny ...
And my vote is for either a pre-64 winchester, or a new winchester 1892 deluxe octagon (2019 shot show special).
Just like the new model 70's made in portugal are nothing short of excellent, so are the winchester leverguns currently made in japan.

-dennis

x2!

 

[conor_90]

I like my Henry, but no lever gun handles and carries like the 1892 that I have tried and I've sampled a few...

 

[geologist]

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Itty bitty 92's are a ton o fun. For rifle cartridges go Model 94 & fer handgun rounds go Model 92. Can't lose either way.

 

[Bushman2087]

the quality in a henry is much higher than that of a marlin that is for sure

 

[heronfish]

Henry has taken the crown of the everymans new lever gun

 

[BigUglyMan]

What crown? The one for not making any improvements on an over 100 year old design? Even the bolt gun guys have made a few tweaks to the M98 Mauser that have improved it, as hard as that is for an old Fudd to say!