![henry repeater henry repeater](https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/760980/henry-h010gwl-45-70-govt-nr28599.jpg)
In 1864, Henry grew angry over what he believed was inadequate compensation and attempted to have the Connecticut legislature award ownership of New Haven Arms to him. The first Henry rifles were not produced for army use until mid-1862. 44 caliber repeating rifle, which soon proved the worth of the lever-action design on the battlefields of the American Civil War, where Henry rifles were used alongside muzzle-loading rifled muskets such as the Springfield Model 1861. On October 16, 1860, he received a patent on the Henry. Winchester forced the insolvency of the Volcanic Arms Company in late 1856, took over ownership and moved the plant to New Haven, Connecticut, where it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857 and Henry was hired as plant superintendent. Wesson remained as plant manager for 8 months before rejoining Smith to found the “Smith & Wesson Revolver Company” upon obtaining the licensing of the Rollin White rear loading cylinder patent. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company obtained all rights for the Volcanic designs (both rifle and pistol versions were in production by this time) as well as the ammunition, from the Smith & Wesson Company. Originally using the name “Smith & Wesson Company”, the name was changed to “Volcanic Repeating Arms Company” in 1855, with the addition of new investors, one of whom was Oliver Winchester. Production was in the shop of Horace Smith in Norwich, Connecticut. Wesson formed a new company with Courtlandt Palmer, and further improved the operating mechanism, developing the Smith & Wesson Lever pistol, and a new Volcanic cartridge. Wesson on a rifle known as the “Volitional Repeater”. He apprenticed to a gunsmith as a young man and worked his way up to shop foreman at the Robins & Lawrence Arms Company of Windsor, Vermont where he worked with Horace Smith and Daniel B. Henry was born in Claremont, New Hampshire in 1821. He was the inventor of the Henry rifle, the first reliable lever-action repeating rifle. (March 22, 1821–June 8, 1898) was an American gunsmith and manufacturer. Benjamin Tyler Henry – Inventor of the Henry Rifle