Henry Rifle Forums

Is this freakin' drop safe? H&R had rebounding hammers on the handi rifle and that ended up with some lawsuits cause people dropped a loaded gun and ended up with new peep holes in their house.

Just looking at my H 009 30-30, I would say so. The transfer bar is moved into position to contact the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. With the hammer down, I don't see it being possible to contact the firing pin. Even with the hammer cocked, it couldn't contact the firing pin if the blow caused release of the hammer, unless, somehow, the transfer bar moved independent of the trigger. The single shot is constructed differently, but is supposed work similarly. I haven't studied it enough yet to figure it out .

as one who obsesses on safety, when I received our first Henry (BBS 44 Mag) I spent some time trying to make its safety fail .... with a round in the chamber with a new primer (no powder or bullet), finger off of the trigger, and the hammer down, I pulled it back and let it go a bunch of times .... I did this at various points between hammer down position and where the hammer locks back in firing position .... at no point did the firing pin leave any mark whatsoever on the primer ..... further, with the same shell in the chamber I did jar it by dropping it a couple of inches so that the recoil pad would contact a solid surface .... this was done both with the hammer in safe and firing position .... same result, no contact mark on the firing pin .... in thinking about it, a test I haven't conducted (that I now plan to) is to ease the hammer part way back, pull the trigger and let the hammer go ..... I can't see any way it will fire but I think it is a test well worth making

Yornoc3 wrote:Just looking at my H 009 30-30, I would say so. The transfer bar is moved into position to contact the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. With the hammer down, I don't see it being possible to contact the firing pin. Even with the hammer cocked, it couldn't contact the firing pin if the blow caused release of the hammer, unless, somehow, the transfer bar moved independent of the trigger. The single shot is constructed differently, but is supposed work similarly. I haven't studied it enough yet to figure it out .

Old Handi rifles have no transfer bar, these Henry's don't detail one in their specs either. A rebounding hammer with no transfer bar seams risky, which is really sad cause I wanted one of these as a dangerous game gun.

All I can say about the single shot's rebounding hammer is that the hammer spring itself is pretty powerful, and the spring that "rebounds" the hammer is also pretty strong. It takes some force to make it "give" when you push on it to feel it move. I agree that there is no transfer bar shown on the schematic for the single shot, there are blocks that won't let it be cocked if not closed properly.

SingleAction357 wrote:Old Handi rifles have no transfer bar, these Henry's don't detail one in their specs either. A rebounding hammer with no transfer bar seams risky, which is really sad cause I wanted one of these as a dangerous game gun.

have you considered calling Henry customer service and directing the issue at them .... I have no doubt that they have technical, engineering information along with knowledge of years of in the field use .... I can't think of any better source from which to get solid info on your concerns

I would call HRA and get their take on it. They'll give you the straight goods.

SingleAction357 wrote:Is this freakin' drop safe? H&R had rebounding hammers on the handi rifle and that ended up with some lawsuits cause people dropped a loaded gun and ended up with new peep holes in their house.

Rebounding hammer was design for break open gun . The real old guns break open guns the hammer rest on firepin making the firepin sticking out of frame if you forgot to put gun on 1/2 cock and closing the gun the firing pin would hit the primer . I prefer rebound hammer with float firing pin on my hunting guns , that way I can carry them loaded safely .

I have a newer Model 94 WIn., with the hammer block crossbolt safety, that also has a rebounding hammer, no half cock. I believe that most "modern" versions of leverguns have them, in some form.

My .22 mag mares leg has a transfer bar safety, so I know they use them, I just wonder why not here?

SingleAction357 wrote:My .22 mag mares leg has a transfer bar safety, so I know they use them, I just wonder why not here?

Are you sure? I believe the .22 Mag Mare's Leg and rifles have a 1/4 cock safety only, as do Henry's other .22 lever guns.

All my Henry levers have a transfer bar safety. 22,44,45/70!

I was under the belief that the Henry .22 cal rifles (and .22 Mares leg) did not have a transfer bar, just a half cock?
But I'm not 100% sure about the .22 Mag as I don't have one.
I just looked at 3 of my .22 Henry's and non have transfer bar.
My .357's do have a transfer bar.

Dale - AZ

Squatch wrote:All my Henry levers have a transfer bar safety. 22,44,45/70!

Squatch,

Which .22 do you have? My Classic carbine does not have a transfer bar.

This is what Henry lists on their website for the .22 Golden Boy:

Safety1/4 Cock

I have a Golden Boy. I haven't had it torn down that far in a while. But pretty sure I remember having to insert the bar when I reassembled it last time. If I remember correctly I had to fumble with it a bit. Seems it lays in a groove on the hammer.

Also can't remember if it's a hammer to pin transfer bar or a hammer block that releases on trigger pull. Both accomplish the same end result. No fire without hammer pull.

Hopefully I'll be stripping all 3 of my Henry's down to the receivers for a thorough cleaning soon. I will double check then.

You've got me curious now. But I don't have the time right now to take it apart. I hope I'm not getting the 22 and 44 mixed up. But They were more similar than different.

For what it's worth I did just go to Henry's site. It does say 1/4 cock on the GB and transfer bar on the Big Boy and 45/70. So maybe I was confused!

Best safety is NO round in the chamber unless ready to shoot!

I don't like 1/4 cock without floating firing pin .. If you drop your gun you can break the 1/4 cock ear off sear and gun can fire . ... Rebounding hammer with a floating firing pin is the best safety for hunting in a lever or break open . Firing pin block in a bolt gun are the best carry loaded hunting rifles [ not a trigger block ] These are very very safe with loaded 1 round in chamber .

I agree on the firing pin block safety you get on most bolt rifles. Still the best option for carrying a loaded round. For my lever guns, I still like the much hated cross bolt hammer safeties found on later Winchester and Marlins. For sure, not traditional, but pretty darn handy when you want to unload a side loading lever gun by cycling the action.