Henry Repeating Arms used the weekend’s National Rifle Association exhibits to introduce its first handgun, a .357 Magnum Revolver with two grip styles and they are calling it the “Big Boy.”
The new sixgun is offered with either a square butt or Birdshead-style grip. Both grip frames are brass, while the main frame, barrel and cylinder are polished blue steel. The revolver weighs about 34 ounces, and it could become a collector’s item, being the first handgun produced by the famous rifle maker.
According to Henry publicity, “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.”
According to Henry specs, the Big Boy features a 4-inch barrel cut with a 1:16-inch rifling twist. It has an overall length of 9 inches. It wears American walnut stocks, has a transfer bar safety, fixed notch rear sight and screw-on front sight, and there are high, medium and low interchangeable front sights.
It’s a full-size revolver that fills the hand, with a traditional swing-out (to the left) cylinder, and cylinder latch on the left side of the frame.