Twenty-five years for Henry Repeating Arms!

One of America's most historic firearms manufacturers is having … a 25th anniversary? Yep, Henry Repeating Arms turns 25 in 2022, and while it may not be the direct successor to the original Benjamin Tyler Henry-founded company, it's very much a spiritual successor, carrying the made-in-America tradition of lever-action rifles into the 21st century.

The original lever-action Henry Rifle was a Civil War-era weapon, with that company eventually evolving into Winchester Repeating Arms. The modern Henry Repeating Arms company was founded in 1996, when Louis Imperato and his son Anthony Imperato began selling the Henry H001 Lever Action .22, an adaptation of the ERMA-built Ithaca Model 72 Saddle Gun. The Model 72 wasn't unobtanium in its day, but it wasn't exactly common, either. Henry Repeating Arms changed that, and a quarter-century later, the H001 and its derivatives practically define the rimfire lever-rifle market.

Henry has come a long way since that first rifle, but the company's original slogan seems to have held true in the decades since: "Made in America and Priced Right." While its lineup has expanded to centerfire rifles and shotguns, including reproductions of the original 1860s-era Henry Rifle, the company has kept pricing within reach of most consumers, even as material and labour costs rise. And, the company has kept production in the US, no mean feat when even Winchester and Browning are building their lever guns overseas. And, while cowboy-style firearms and wood-and-steel hunting rifles and shotguns are its core business, Henry hasn't been afraid to embrace new ideas, building tactical-style firearms as lever-actions return to popularity in the US, in the home-defense role.

What's next for Henry? Of course, we'll get the usual blinged-out anniversary-edition rifles this year, but going forward, we'd expect the usual slow-but-steady improvement of the lineup. There are definitely market segments that the rest of the market ignores, and if Henry can figure out how to fill those affordably, there will still be lots of buyers lined up screaming, "Take my money—now!"

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