Henry Big Boy Revolver: a six-shooter you didn't see coming!
The Henry Repeating Arms company, previously known chiefly for its extensive line of lever-action rifles, in a surprising announcement launches its first retro-style double-action revolver chambered in .38 Special / .357 Magnum and available with a Gunfighter or Birdshead type American walnut grip
Henry Big Boy Revolver: a six-shooter you didn't see coming! (photo by Oleg Volk)
Freshly announced by the company established by Anthony Imperato 27 years ago under the namesake of the inventor of the first functional repeating rifle, the Henry Big Boy Revolver bears the same name as the brand's own, vast and wildly successful line of lever-action rifles.
Nobody saw this coming, and maybe a double-action revolver – and a quite traditional-looking one at that – may raise some eyebrows as a marketing choice, but it's plain to see how Henry Repeating Arms wanted to provide its customers with a worthy companion sidearm to their lever-actions.
Henry Big Boy Revolver, Gunfighter grip model – left side
Henry Big Boy Revolver, Birdshead grip model – left side
Technically speaking, the new Henry Big Boy revolver is a traditional double action design, with a manually cockable hammer for single-action shooting, featuring a six-shot cylinder chambered for .357 Magnum and a 4" barrel with a 1:16" twist rate that will properly handle and stabilize .38 Special as well.
Henry Big Boy Revolver – right side
When it comes to aesthetics, however, things change quite a bit: the polished blue finish on the round steel barrel and machined steel frame, and the unshrouded ejector, reminiscent of the double-action revolvers manufactured up until halfway through the 20th Century, all conspire to imbue the Henry Big Boy revolver with a Retro flavor perfectly matching that of Henry's own lever action rifles.
The grip strap and trigger guard are composed of one single piece of mirror-like brass; the grip panels are cut out of genuine American walnut and available in square Gunfighter-style for maximum control or rounded, compact Birdshead style for better concealments – and looks. The cylinder swings open to the left, and the cylinder opening lever is located only on the left side of the frame, yet the grips feature thumb rest cuts on both sides, making the Henry Big Boy revolver ergonomically friendly for left-handed and right-handed shooters alike.
The overall classic look and feel of the Henry Big Boy revolver doesn't make it any less modern in manufacturing, and features: a transfer bar safety prevents accidental discharges, and while the rear sight is fixed, machined directly on to the top of the frame, the front sight is a screw-on post that can be easily removed and replaced with others of different heights – Interchangeable high, medium, and low front sights are issued from factory with each sample – to meet the needs of every single shooter.
Clearly, the Henry Big Boy revolver is strictly a target shooting tool, as well as a must-have for collectors who will definitely want to own the first handgun ever manufactured by the Henry Repeating Arms company.
Standing in at 22,86 cm / 9" and weighing in at 963 grams / 34 oz. when empty, the Henry Big Boy revolver is available on the US market at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $928.00. For information concerning export availability and pricing, refer to your national importer for Henry Repeating Arms products.