Henry Repeating Arms now has *revolvers*

Henry Repeating Arms, famous for their high-quality lever-action rifles, has a new product in their stable.  They’re bringing out a couple of models of revolvers called the Big Boys.  Each are chambered in .357.  Frankly, they don’t seem especially sleek or sexy, but they no doubt work or Henry wouldn’t put their name on them.

Given that revolvers are nowhere nearly as popular as they were thirty years ago, this seems like a risky move on Henry’s part.  In the late 1990s was about the end of police departments issuing revolvers to the police.  Agencies across America were already well into replacing the venerable old wheelguns with snazzy semi-autos with lots of rounds.  For those of us who like revolvers, it was a Golden Era to buy gently used Smith & Wesson K-frame police trade-ins for the princely sum of $129 plus shipping.  With $75 in gunsmithing, they would shoot like a race gun.

Now, nobody in law enforcement carries revolvers and darn few concealed carry licensees do either, unless it’s a niche role like in a purse or pocket.  Doubt this?  Try to find decent holsters for wheelguns without going to the internet.

Here’s the announcement from their website:

As the perfect companion to ride alongside our world-famous Big Boy rifle or as the star of its own show, the Big Boy Revolver is a classically styled six-shooter fully capable of bringing the Henry name into the wild world of wheel guns with the same attention to detail and American craftsmanship you know and love.

Available with square Gunfighter-style grips for maximum control or rounded, compact Birdshead-style grips for better concealment, this traditional double-action handgun would look right at home on the shelf of a Wild West general store. Borrowing design cues from its long gun brethren, the Big Boy Revolver touts highly polished blued steel throughout the medium-sized frame, quick-release cylinder, and 4” barrel. In addition, genuine American walnut grip panels are affixed to both sides of a mirror-like brass trigger guard that’s visible around the grip to the top of the backstrap.

At about 34 ounces, these revolvers carry easily yet shoot softly with a smooth pull and hammer drop in double action and a crisp break in single action. A traditional revolver sight picture is achieved with a fixed notch cut directly into the frame and a ramped blade front sight, of which three sizes are included for regulating the point of aim to match the point of impact. Like its rifle counterpart, a transfer bar safety keeps the firing pin from striking a loaded chamber unless the hammer is cocked back and the trigger is squeezed.

From full-house .357 Magnum loads for hunting to light .38 Special target loads for easy plinking, the Big Boy Revolver will eat all you can feed it. So whether shooting for fun or meat, having your long gun and sidearm chamber the same cartridge is convenient — that’s Cowboy Logistics at its finest.

As the first-ever revolver under our belt, serious collectors and connoisseurs of the Henry mark will relish the opportunity to add both variants to their safe. Modern design features with historically consistent style have always been our hallmark, and the Big Boy Revolver is no exception.