Benjamin Tyler Henry

Benjamin Tyler Henry, born on March 22, 1821, in Claremont, New Hampshire, was a pioneering American gunsmith and manufacturer. His most notable achievement was the invention of the Henry rifle, recognized as the first reliable lever-action repeating rifle. Henry's journey in the firearms industry began with an apprenticeship at a young age, eventually leading him to become the shop foreman at the Robins & Lawrence Arms Company in Windsor, Vermont. There, he collaborated with notable figures such as Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson on the innovative 'Volitional Repeater' rifle.

In 1854, Smith and Wesson, along with Courtlandt Palmer, established a new company that advanced the operating mechanism of firearms, resulting in the Smith & Wesson Lever pistol and the development of the Volcanic cartridge. This venture evolved into the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company in 1855, with Oliver Winchester joining as an investor. The company produced both rifle and pistol versions of the Volcanic designs, along with the necessary ammunition. However, due to financial difficulties, Winchester took control of the company in late 1856, relocating it to New Haven, Connecticut, where it was rebranded as the New Haven Arms Company.

Henry's significant contribution came on October 16, 1860, when he received a patent for the Henry .44 caliber repeating rifle. This innovative design proved its effectiveness on the battlefields of the American Civil War, where it was utilized alongside traditional muzzle-loading rifled muskets like the Springfield Model 1861. The first Henry rifles were not available for military use until mid-1862, marking a pivotal moment in firearm history.

Despite his groundbreaking work, Henry became frustrated with what he perceived as inadequate compensation in 1864. He sought to claim ownership of New Haven Arms through the Connecticut legislature, but Winchester intervened, reorganizing the company as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. This led to the development of the Model 1866, the first Winchester rifle, which featured enhancements to the original Henry design. Following this dispute, Henry left the company and continued his work as an independent gunsmith until his passing in 1898.