Posted on 12/07/2012 3:04:39 AM PST by JoeProBono
"Ahh, Christmas, that magical time of the year. Nothing beats the joy and pride a parent feels when they pick out that perfect gift and see their offspring open it up on Christmas morning. Their first bicycle, a well-oiled baseball mitt, a … Who the hell am I kidding? The latest edition of “Call of Duty” plus a live internet link for the X-box. Done. However, there’s one old-fashioned present that still rocks – their first rifle! A finely crafted, bolt-action single shot .22 rimfire will be a prized possession for years to come, or until they’re old enough to want something else. So . . . then what? What do you get your progeny some years down the road?
A second .22 rimfire rifle, full-sized this time. Oh sure, they’ll want a deer rifle, a shotgun, an AK-47 and a Glock (well, my kids anyway). But there’s a simple calculus available to help settle the issue. A 12-year-old boy, a .22 rifle, and an all-day outing will cost less in ammo than a movie and popcorn. Try that with any other firearm.
Since the “first rifle” Christmas was done years back, I worked the grandparents this time around and suggested they send cold hard cash. Armed with Grandpa’s loot, we set out the very next weekend (New Year’s) for a very conveniently timed gun show. After forcing my off-spring to at least look at some other (slightly used) rifles, I relented. We stood at a dealer’s table to examine a Henry.
My son had burned up the internet on rifle research, and plainly wanted nothing else. So, Henry it was. Now there are more than a few horse-traders in my lineage and certain things are expected of the men in my family. So I stepped up and brought my mad bargaining skills to the table. After furious negotiations, I managed to obtain this fine rifle for . ....."
I would encourage anyone who wants a lever action .22 to save the other $200 and buy the Marlin 39. It is 10 times the gun for less than twice as much. It is worth the extra money. The Henry is cheapened in every way possible. I wish that were not the truth, but the truth it is. If you want a rifle that you can pass down through generations, then get the Marlin.
Disclaimer: I gunsmith for a living and DO NOT have an investment in either company.
Do you mean the 39A or is the 39 a different model?
Henry is back up and running and shipping out rifles.
Wish I were a kid again to find this under the Christmas Tree.
“Cheapened” how?
Of course the 39A. They stopped making the 39 in 1938. Sorry, should have specified.
Thanks, I couldn’t find the 39 listed in the stores but didn’t know the history.
Looks like it closer to $330 difference, more than double the price of the Henry. I suspect them to have quite a difference in quality for that price difference.
http://www.basspro.com/Marlin-39A-22LR-Rifle/product/10217876/
http://www.basspro.com/Henry-Lever-Action-22-LR-Rifle/product/10217916/
The receiver is cast metal instead of machined, forged steel. The internal parts are cast or stamped wherever possible. The barrel band is PLASTIC and breaks with a frustrating regularity. The few places where machining is done, it is done roughly. Tolerances are sloppy.
I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just call it from a machining, metallurgical and mechanical standpoint. The Henry is cheaply made and overpriced. The result of the differences between the two are that the Henry will experience more frequent breakdowns than the Marlin when fired at the same round count rate over a given period of time. The fit and finish on the Marlin is also vastly superior. Heck, the Henry is painted for goodness sake.
The beauty of our still somewhat free market is that people can choose.
Any thoughts on 22 wheel guns?
S&W for a double-action and Ruger Single Six for single action.
The more affordable firearms, Taurus, Charter Arms, Rossi, etc. all suffer from the same issues: Stamped and cast parts, sloppy fit and finish and shorter usable lives.
My philosophy is to buy one quality firearm instead of numerous 2nd rate firearms.
>My philosophy is to buy one quality firearm instead of numerous 2nd rate firearms
Good philosophy, seriously, but some of us folks make do with what we can afford ;-{)
Thanks for the update that is great news!
I am a sole proprietor gunsmith. You are real broke if you’re broker than I am. I’m just patient and save for quality.
bfl.
I ain’t broke, but I’m severely bent.
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