The past two decades have been a time of growth and change for the company. Lou Imperato’s son Anthony has taken over the business and recommitted it to domestic production, guaranteeing that “Henry rifles will be made in America, or they won’t be made at all.” To that end, two new plants have been opened in the United States since 2006; first a factory in Rice Lake, Wis., and in 2008 a large plant and headquarters complex in Bayonne, N.J., to replace the multiple buildings—spread over several blocks—that the company was occupying in New York. During this time, Henry Repeating Arms has continued to see opportunity and make the most of it.

Henry’s success with rimfire lever-action rifles paved the way for larger-caliber variations. First the company conquered the pistol-calibers—.357 Mag., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt—with the Big Boy rifles. These guns retain the straight stock and octagonal barrel of the classic Henrys, and definitely had the cowboy action shooting market in mind. Next, the Henry .30/30 Rifle upgraded the platform for deer hunters, chambering the .30-30 Win. cartridge. But it is the newest offering from Henry, the .45-70 Lever Action, that really captures the essence of big-bore lever guns and blends the best aspects of its classic predecessors.

Chambered for the .45-70 Gov’t, similarities between Henry’s product and the Marlin Model 1895 do not end with ammunition. The Henry’s cast-steel receiver features a solid top and an integral ejector. As well, the rifle’s bolt is rounded, much like the Marlin—the Winchester 1894 had a relatively blocky breech bolt—and utilizes a right-side extractor. Taking in the lines of the .45-70, and the matte-black metal and walnut furniture, the gun is nearly a dead ringer for the Marlin Guide Gun. A few differences set them apart however. For one, the open sights are the XS Ghost Ring and front blade. This system uses a large rear aperture and a tall front post with a bright-white stripe to draw the shooter’s attention. The sights were a popular aftermarket addition to many hunters’ lever guns, so Henry made it standard. Though classic Marlins have the rear sight mounted forward of the receiver, the .45-70’s design—which mounts the rear sight using one of the receiver’s drilled scope base screw holes—provides a longer sight radius, but does require that the rear aperture be removed in order to mount an optic.

The most obvious feature unique to the Henry .45-70 is its method for loading. Operation of the firearm is the tried-and-true method used by the Winchester and Marlin guns, but the Henry’s receiver does not incorporate a loading port. Instead, the .45-70 uses a method more commonly encountered in tubular-magazine rimfires. The black magazine tube, which is secured under the barrel by a single band, is really just a shroud. Inside, a brass cylinder contains the spring and follower, and it is into that tube that ammunition—up to four cartridges—is actually loaded. The magazine tube is secured within the shroud by a pin-and-groove locking system. Rotating the magazine inside the shroud moves a pin on the magazine cap into a groove cut into the shroud. Spring tension from the magazine spring—increased when the magazine is loaded—presses the pin against the shroud, ensuring it will not come loose under recoil. A cut-out in the shroud, shaped like .45-70 Gov’t cartridge, facilitates loading of the magazine when the internal tube is withdrawn about three-quarters of its length—the magazine tube does not need to be fully removed for loading, as with Henry’s rimfires.

Shooting the .45-70 confirmed that the gun is a blend of classic and modern designs and an excellent addition to the lever-action legacy. The 18½-inch barrel and 7-lb. overall weight make it easy and natural to shoulder, handle and point. Loading the magazine was simple and even quick after the first couple reloads. The best method seemed to be holding the rifle upside-down with the support hand, and using the firing hand to unfasten the magazine cap, withdraw the magazine, load new cartridges through the port, and replace and secure the magazine tube. It should be noted that I had to tighten the barrel band after the first couple strings because the magazine assembly started creeping out of the stock during recoil. Once tight, however, no further problems were experienced. Operating the lever requires only a moderate amount of force, but a fast, firm and fluid stroke enhances ejection from the right-side port and provides solid lock-up for the bolt and breechblock.

Accuracy at 50 yds. with the test rifle was on par with expectations. Suffice it to say, shooting “one ragged hole” was not in the cards using the open sights, though likely possible with an optic. The rounds downrange may not have been stacking one on top of another, but they did form nice round clusters surrounding the point of aim. Also, there are a few considerations that should mitigate concerns about the rifle’s accuracy. For one, I used the standard XS sights instead of attaching a scope. The sights are excellent for “guide gun” type uses, very bright and intuitive, but they are on the larger side and not really designed for the precise targeting required when shooting small targets at distance. The lever action itself also proved an impediment when shooting for accuracy. Reloading required the rifle be lifted off the rest, or canted, in order to work the lever. This also meant that cheekweld was broken between every shot.

I include these details not to detract from the gun’s shooting potential, but rather to emphasize how accurate the rifle is in real-world circumstances. Big-bore lever-actions and the .45-70 Gov’t cartridge were not designed to hit golf balls at 50 long paces, though this Henry rifle did after a couple tries. But if I were trying to hit the dinner plate-size vital area on a game animal in order to eat, or if I had to stop a charging grizzly, I would be confident of success with this firearm/ammunition combination. Henry’s .45-70 certainly ticks the boxes as a working man’s truck, ranch or guide gun. It offers: great shooting from the standing or kneeling positions at short to medium ranges; sights that are easy to use and still allow for situational awareness; and the lever-action platform just in case a quick second shot is needed.

So what is next for Henry Repeating Arms? Talking to Anthony Imperato, it was clear the company’s next project is one he’s excited about and one that couldn’t make more sense for his firm—the Original Henry rifle. The gun will be nearly identical to the Model 1860 Henry, in both size and shape and even incorporating a brass receiver—albeit hardened to ordnance tolerances. The Original’s only deviation will be its chambering, .44-40 Win. instead of the 1860’s .44 Rimfire cartridge. Offerings such as the .45-70 and the Original Henry give consumers the chance to connect with the rich heritage of American lever-actions, not only bringing this story full circle but also pointing the way to the future for these venerable firearms.