doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need info on Henry hammer SxS

I need some arms expertise from the group here. My dad called yesterday and told me he bought me a SxS hammer shotgun since he knew I had been looking for one and he found one in great condition that was such a deal, he couldn't pass it up. When I asked exactly what it was he found and bought, this is what he told me.

Manufacturer - Henry Arms Co. - made in Belgium
12 Gauge SxS hammer shotgun with Damascus barrels
Accepts 2 3/4 inch shotgun shells (not sure if it is 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 chambering)
I don't know the manufacture date yet (won't see the gun until this weekend)

I am told that the gun is in great condition and looks like it has hardly been used. Both barrels are shiny on the inside, no pitting or wear and the stock and action are both in great shape and tight.

Can any of you folks tell me your opinion on this gun? My thought is to probably shoot black powder shotgun shells through it since this was probably what it was made to shoot and wasn't designed for modern shotgun loads. I have heard that I could also look at having it sleeved to be safer than standard damascus barrels.

Any advise you can give me would be great! I need to decide if I want to keep this for a target/hunting gun, save it as a wall hanger or sell it.

Let me know.

Inola Cowboy
Inola, OK (outside Tulsa, OK)

Hello and welcome to the board.

About your gun. Without pictures of the gun and all the proof marks, it is impossible to tell anything about it.

Henry was used as a trade name by Folsum in the early 1900's. Some of those guns were most likely imported from Belgium. You should be aware that this was most likely a low end firearm when it was originally produced. The pictures will tell the story.

Here is a sample of what is needed:


Pete

In all probability this is a gun marketed by H&D Folsom Arms Company,312-314 Broadway New York, N.Y. By 1895 the company [established in 1859] had become a major importer of firearms. They imported most of their guns from Belgium using more than 50 brand names one of which was, "Henry Arms Company." It is unlikely that this gun is of high quality even though the condition may be very good. You would be well advised to have it inspected by a qualified gunsmith prior to test firing. This company used names similar to some of the best of English gunmakers, for example, Manton and ot course Henry!
So caveat emptor applies.

In all probability this is a gun marketed by H&D Folsom Arms Company,312-314 Broadway New York, N.Y. By 1895 the company [established in 1859] had become a major importer of firearms. They imported most of their guns from Belgium using more than 50 brand names one of which was, "Henry Arms Company." It is unlikely that this gun is of high quality even though the condition may be very good. You would be well advised to have it inspected by a qualified gunsmith prior to test firing. This company used names similar to some of the best of English gunmakers, for example, Manton and ot course Henry!
So caveat emptor applies.

I think you guys are definitely on track. This gun was made in Belgium and marketed under the Henry Arms Co. name.

Do you have any idea if this gun can have sleeves added to the barrels to make them safer? Also, can they be sized down from a 12 gauge to a 20 gauge and/or be drilled out for interchangable chokes?

Let me know.

It wouldn't be worth it. I think you would be looking at, at least $1200 per bbl, if you wanted to sleeve them.

The short answer is No. The long answer is Yes, if the gun were used by your Great Grandfather when he settled his allotment and provided food as well as protection for the family.
Being that this has no family connection, you are well advised to have it looked at by a competent SxS smith and take his advice as to shootability. If he says yes, shoot low pressure Nitro loads and if no, place it in a honored place in the house. Dad did think of you, after all.
Give your Dad a hug and thank him but ask that he look to H&H or Purdey when he next thinks of buying you a gun.:}
Best and welcome.
John

Thanks. I have to admit that I am dissappointed that this has turned into such a complicated issue with this gun. I had really hoped that I could turn this into an occasional shooter and at least shoot some clays with it for fun. From all the advice I have received so far, I am not sure that is possible or adviseable.

Whoa! No one said it is not a shooter. I do think pictures would help. Because it is not a 6 figure gun does not mean you can not go out and take a few squirrel, quail, clay targets with it.

Some of the responses have been a bit tongue in check. Please do not be put off by them.

There was a flood of shotguns in the marketplace at the time ( which we can only guess at for the moment ) it was produced. The majority of guns from that era can be thought of as "hardware store guns" or "catalog guns". They served to fill a niche. Many of them are great symbols of Americana and an age long gone by.

I am not sure what your dad paid for it. When it was new on the shelf, it most likely sold for under $10.00. It most likely was used to put meat on the table for some family during hard times. In has certainly been cared for enough that today it is all in one piece and not pile of splinters and rust. Given all that, if it is in decent condition, it should be cleaned up and taken out a few more times. After all that is why your Dad bought it for you. For him to come into your home and see it on display would make it worth more any gun you could ever own.

Pete

I have an update on this topic.

I did see the gun this weekend and it is very nice. I am not sure where this gun came from but it doesn't show the wear that a gun this old should show. The blueing is not worn throuh on the barrel except the last 1/8th of an inch of the barrel. The rest of the metal looks good with only some minor wear on the bluing. The gun is very tight and smooth. The inside of the barrels are clean but don't give the indication that they have been polished. There is no pitting or rust of any kind that I can see.

This gun is not Damascus but rather English machine forged laminated steel, in three rods [a composition barrel]. It is labeled "Laminated Steel Belgium" on the top of the center piece of the barrels and "Choked" below this on the left barrel. It does not have the Damascus "marbling" look in the metal. In fact, it looks very smooth in coloration. I believe Damascus is also considered a composition barrel but with two rods instead of 3.

I cannot find a year of manufacture anywhere. This is labeled as Henry Arms Co. on each side of the gun on the metal plates that mount on the stock. Of course, this was made in Belgium and marketed in the US as Henry. The number (I am guessing serial or model number)is the same on the barrels, the receiver, and the front wood stock grip for the gun. This number is 45700.

I am now planning on having a good gunsmith examine the gun for any flaws or concerns. I also plan on having a machine shop do a magna flux on the gun to see if there is any signs of separation, etc. in the laminated steel barrels.

I haven't measured the chambers yet but I am betting that they are set for 2 1/2 inch shells. I am reluctant to have a gunsmith modify them to accept 2 3/4 inch shells. I have no plans to shoot standard shells through this gun and will only stick to black powder shells.

This is a beautiful gun for its age. If any of you guys can help me identify how old this gun is or anything else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. I am going to try to get some photos of the marks on the barrels, etc. and post here within the next week.