The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I could do with some help identifying the model number of my recently purchased Henry .45 Colt.

Bought it second hand for a very reasonable price. Shoots well and is in almost new condition.
I know it was made in 2008 but can't seem to identify the model. Every time I Google I come up with the later / newer models.

Later Big Boy models have a tapped brass receiver to take a scope. Mine doesn't. It's completely plain.
Every stock rifle I've seen has a barrel mounted ramp sight. The one on mine is a very simple flip up U sight set into a dovetail - it looks like adjustment for elevation is done with loosening / turning a small screw to raise or lower the notch. It has the common three white lines and a white centre diamond painted on it.

Getting the exact model would be helpful for locating a rear peep sight. Cheers in advance.

contact henry

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy/

It is a Henry Big Boy. As you say, made around 2008. A quick search of some of the lever gun forums show conversations around 2008/9 about drilling and tapping the Henry and of a few “cottage industry” no-drill scope mounts. Yours is just an early production that didn’t feature the drilled and tapped receiver yet.

Likewise the rear sight is no doubt just a “change out” that a previous owner in the last 9 or 10 years preferred. The rear sight you describe sounds very much like that off a Ruger 10/22. 3/8” dovetails for barrel rear sights are more or less the norm for the last 20 years. Replacement sights for that should be easy to acquire and there are some nice ones on the market.

Just remember, they won’t be an exact fit, so modify the sight base with some Emory paper, not the dovetail!

Sim G wrote:It is a Henry Big Boy. As you say, made around 2008. A quick search of some of the lever gun forums show conversations around 2008/9 about drilling and tapping the Henry and of a few “cottage industry” no-drill scope mounts. Yours is just an early production that didn’t feature the drilled and tapped receiver yet.

Likewise the rear sight is no doubt just a “change out” that a previous owner in the last 9 or 10 years preferred. The rear sight you describe sounds very much like that off a Ruger 10/22. 3/8” dovetails for barrel rear sights are more or less the norm for the last 20 years. Replacement sights for that should be easy to acquire and there are some nice ones on the market.

Just remember, they won’t be an exact fit, so modify the sight base with some Emory paper, not the dovetail!

Cheers. That makes sense. I 'm better armed to choose a replacement now I have some back story on it.