Author Topic: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here  (Read 3678 times)

Skyjacked97ZJ

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JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« on: March 20, 2018, 12:46:18 AM »
So this has been in my family forever, all I know about it is that it says JJ Henry & Sons - Boulton on the lock. It has a 42" barrel and I am not sure of what caliber it is. It also came with a powder horn that I'd assume is from the same period. I'd like to know any information that you guys have about this rifle. Can provide more detailed pictures if they are needed.










Online Seth Isaacson

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2018, 01:00:37 AM »
Check this post out for detailed information on the Henry gunmakers:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=22490.0
I am the Lead Historian and a Firearms Specialist at Rock Island Auction Co., but I am here out of my own personal interests in muzzle loading and history.
*All opinions expressed are mine alone and are NOT meant to represent those of any other entity unless otherwise expressly stated.*

Offline spgordon

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2018, 01:03:47 AM »
J.J. Henry and Son--singular: he had just one son (James). J. Joseph Henry moved back to Boulton from Philadelphia in 1822 and died in 1836. His son, James, was born in 1809--so he was only 13 in 1822 and I would suspect it would be some years before the firm's name would be called "J. J. Henry and Son," though to be honest I don't know when. But I would guess this dates from 1830-1836.
Check out: The Lost Village of Christian's Spring
https://christiansbrunn.web.lehigh.edu/
And: The Earliest Moravian Work in the Mid-Atlantic: A Guide
https://www.moravianhistory.org/product-page/moravian-activity-in-the-mid-atlantic-guidebook

Offline spgordon

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2018, 01:15:19 AM »
And here's your man, J. Joseph Henry:


Check out: The Lost Village of Christian's Spring
https://christiansbrunn.web.lehigh.edu/
And: The Earliest Moravian Work in the Mid-Atlantic: A Guide
https://www.moravianhistory.org/product-page/moravian-activity-in-the-mid-atlantic-guidebook

Offline rich pierce

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2018, 01:20:37 AM »
Excellent rifle.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2018, 01:35:04 AM »
 ;) ;)... nice old gun,.... looks like about 1/3 of the forestock was replaced at some time ... is the barrel also signed, or are we just looking at a Henry lock,..... did they sell their locks on the market to other gun makers,...?

Offline jdm

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2018, 02:28:13 AM »
Nice Lancaster pattern rifle .It would be interesting to know about what caliber it is. As  CCF says the forestock  wood has been replaced .  Some of this type , BUT NOT ALL  were used  for the Indian trade and the fur trade.  Neat gun!  Is there a name on the top flat of the  barrel?     My guess is Henry but could also be made by Tryon.  Thanks for posting.

By the way Welcome .
« Last Edit: March 20, 2018, 02:29:05 AM by jdm »
JIM

Offline wildcatter

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2018, 03:56:19 AM »
Awesome family heirloom, thanks for sharing.

Matt
You have to play this game like somebody just hit your mother with a two-by-four.

Skyjacked97ZJ

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2018, 05:23:52 AM »
There is no name on the barrel anywhere that I can find. How do I figure out what caliber it is?

Offline rich pierce

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2018, 01:45:41 PM »
Make sure it’s unloaded by inserting the ramrod and noting depth. Then comparing that to barrel. Should go all the way to the breechplug.

Do you have a micrometer or dial caliper?  Essential for accurate determination of caliber at the muzzle.
Andover, Vermont

Skyjacked97ZJ

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2018, 06:35:13 PM »
I do have a caliper. Measure the inside of the bore with it and that equals the caliber? Made sure it was unloaded before I started handling it for photos. Safety first.

Offline rich pierce

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2018, 07:11:49 PM »
Yes a caliper will measure it. Not sure if you have discrete lands and grooves there but you can try to measure land to land. Also you could jam a tapered dowel in there and measure that, or cast a slug and measure that to determine caliber a couple inches down.
Andover, Vermont

Skyjacked97ZJ

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2018, 08:18:37 PM »
At the muzzle the caliper measures it as a .50 cal. I know almost nothing about black powder firearms, my area of expertise lies in cartridge double guns.

With that being said, any guesses as to a value on this thing? Is it worth adding to an insurance policy? Also, after talking to my mom it isn't a family heirloom, my grandfather apparently bought it at a flea market. I got the wrong story on it as a kid I guess.

Offline varsity07840

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2018, 10:27:30 PM »
I don't see a rear sight on the gun. Could it be a buck and ball gun, given the shot flask?

Skyjacked97ZJ

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2018, 11:36:18 PM »
There is a rear sight, its a small notched sight about 10" or so from the start of the barrel.

Ironglove

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2018, 04:21:16 PM »
I have a JJ Henry .52 cal.  Straight rifled definitely a Buck and ball gun. It sold at a farm auction for a dollar or so, the buyer dug the silver out of it and threw the gun away. My dad, the scrounge, picked it up and brought it home. The original stock was walnut, he restocked it with curly maple, cast a buttplate and made a hammer. the lock, barrel, ramrod pipes, and patchbox and trigger guard are original are original. If you have any doubt that yours is a true Henry, remove the patchbox inlay and look at the underside of inlay in front of the hinge. On mine it says J J Henry

Offline moseswhite

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Re: JJ Henry & Sons - Not sure what I have here
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2018, 07:04:53 PM »
Very nice Henry trade rifle . Thanks for sharing it with us ! I have several of this same pattern . Yours looks to be a mid 30's gun with the large trade gun style lock .