Take a look here also Lloyd -
web.mac.com/j.henry.artificers/iWeb/Site/Home.htmlSome order info from various sources:
Parsons, John E. 1952.
"Gunmakers of the American Fur Company", New York Historical Society Quarterly XXXVI, April.
-42.5"-44" barrel of 32-40 gauge (.53-.49 cal.)
-Half finished brown and the rest bright
-Both single and double triggers were ordered
-stained maple stock with a chequered grip
-Good roller locks were used
-Ornamentation included a silver thumb piece and some type of silver inlay on the cheek piece
-Wiper and ball mold were included
-Weight was about 10 pounds and cost the company $11
1837 order by Ramsay Crooks of AFC to Henry:
You will have all the orders we receive this year and in the meantime you may go on with the 300 mentioned in my last, viz., 150 rifles American Lancaster pattern @ $9.50; 150 rifles English new pattern, $11.50. Ball 32 to the lb., barrell 40 to 42 inches It is understood these rifles are to be in all respects fully equal to the best you ever made us of these descriptions~ to have a woolen bag or cover, each. The price to include packing and all the charges till delivered in New York and to be paid for in 6 months.
1) In October of 1825 William B. Astor wrote Henry, "on the subject of Rifles. We continue to import a part of those annually required for our trade; but we usually get 100 or 200 manufactured in the United States, and it will depend much on both price and quality whether we do not in future procure the whole quantity in this country. The barrels of our Rifles are, from 3 ft 8 Inches, to 3 ft 10, and the calibre is in part of them 32 [to the pound] while others carry a ball of 40 to the pound - the Locks are of the best strong roller kind; but not water, proof - The stocks are generally of our native Maple, or Sugar-tree, but we may wish part of them of Black Walnut. The mounting including the PatchBox, is of Brass and well ornamented; and each Gun must have Wipers to screw-on to the thimblerods, and a good Ball mould. The whole weight of the Rifle complete, is from 9 to 10 lbs. . . ."
2) In 1830 an order for ten rifles sent to, John Joseph Henry specified that the guns were to be "3 feet 6 1/2 to 3 feet 8 inches in the barrel to carry a ball 32 to 40 to the pound, and in every other respect to be the same as the sample Rifle of J. Dickert and Gill now furnished by the Compy."
3) Sept 1831 Henry received an order for "10 rifles, sing. trig. bar[rels] 3 ft. 4 inches. Cal. 32 [to the pound]. 5 inch locks, best quality, maple stock, chequered, steel mt. with covers, weight of the gun when completed not less than 10# nor more than 11."
4) another order to Henry, given in September of 1833, also called for steel mountings: "20 Rifles, Single trickers, Steel mounted same as last year, Balls 28 per lb and [browned] barrels 3 f 2 in long, The whole rifle not to weigh less than 10 lb. nor more than 11 lb."'
NOTE: the so-called iron mounted Henry often pictured in several books is NOT a Henry built rifle, it is a signed NC rifle using some Henry parts only.
As for the locks used on Henry rifles, what was available, definitely varied in style - in addition to the info in the above orders here's more. :
1) In an 1800 advertising broadside J. J. Henry notes along with the other items he offers...."GUN AND RIFLE LOCKS, of every description"
2) Rifles of J. J. Henry rifles made after 1815 incorporated English-made locks: in 1818, his firm received a shipment from Liverpool, England, that included dozens of "swivel, single roller, double roller, and skeleton pan (aka waterproof) locks."
3) In correspondence to the AMFCo J .J. Henry several times directed the Company to obtain locks for Henry in New York.
4) In another letter to J. J. Henry dated March 1830 from Ramsey Crooks
"... I beg you will be most particular in selecting the Flint Locks required, the price being a secondary consideration. I think the locks should be
waterproof, and otherwise excellent....." (emphasis mine - note in 1825 Astor specifically asked for non-waterproof locks, yet here 5 years later the AMFCo factor is asking for waterproof pans).
5) In an other letter to J. J. Henry dated March 1830 from Ramsey Crooks
"
hasten tro inform you that Percussion Locks will not answer at all for the Rifles, and I beg you will be most particular in selecting the Flint Locks required, the price being a secondary consideration. I think the locks should be waterproff, and otherwise excellent....."
I've got a number of more pics that I'll try and get posted.
Hanson in his book, "Hawken Rifles" includes a chapter on the various trade rifles purchased by AFC for the western market which gives numbers ordered - prior to 1830 other Penna makers (including Dickert, Gomph,, etc.) supplied more rifles than did Henry. After 1830 Henry was most often the main supplier until the 1840's.
two more NOTES:
1) The earlier rifles were to weigh 9-10 lbs the later ones 10-11 lbs even though caliber and barrels length were the same or similar
2) "each Gun must have Wipers to screw-on to the thimblerods" some primary documentation for screw on wipers on ram rods rather than solid ones.....
