Description
I was working a piece of Missouri timberland last fall, the kind of place where a short, handy rifle makes all the difference. That’s when I really came to appreciate the Henry Big Boy Carbine .45 Colt 16″ Octagon Barrel Adjustable Sights American Walnut Stock. It’s a compact, side-gate loading lever-action carbine chambered in .45 Colt, built with classic American walnut and a distinctive octagon barrel. It’s a modern take on a timeless woods-and-trail companion that balances traditional aesthetics with practical, shootable handling.
Look, the first thing you notice is the heft and the look. That 16-inch octagon barrel gives it a presence far beyond its compact size, and the American walnut stock has a warmth and grain you just don’t get with synthetics. I’ve put a few hundred rounds of everything from mild cowboy loads to stout Buffalo Bore through this one, and the action smoothed out beautifully after the first box. The side loading gate is a welcome modern touch on the classic Henry design, letting you top off the magazine without fuss. At just over 7 pounds, it carries light but feels solid and steady on target.
Key Features
The octagon barrel isn’t just for show. It adds a bit of forward weight that makes the carbine point naturally and helps mitigate the modest recoil of the .45 Colt. The adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight is a huge practical upgrade. I dialed mine in for 75 yards with my preferred load, and it was dead-on. The front sight is a brass bead that catches the light perfectly in low conditions. The lever throw is smooth, and the whole mechanism is drop-in ready for a scope if you want, using a Weaver-style base that mounts directly to the receiver.
Here’s the thing—the .45 Colt from a 16-inch barrel is a different animal than from a revolver. You gain meaningful velocity, making it a supremely capable 100-yard woods cartridge for deer or hog. The tubular magazine holds 7 rounds, giving you a total capacity of 8 with one in the chamber. That’s plenty for most practical purposes. The stock has a classic curved buttplate that sits well in the shoulder, and the overall fit and finish are exactly what you expect from Henry. This rifle is compatible with the vast universe of .45 Colt ammunition, from economical brands like Winchester and Remington to specialized loads from companies like Hornady.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .45 Colt |
| Barrel | 16″ Octagon |
| Overall Length | 34.5″ |
| Weight | 7.2 lbs |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 Rounds |
| Stock | American Walnut |
Pros & Cons
Pros: The compact 34.5-inch overall length makes it incredibly maneuverable in a blind or thick cover. The side gate loading is a major functional improvement. The adjustable sights are excellent out of the box. The .45 Colt is a pleasure to shoot, effective for medium game, and can be affordable to plink with. The craftsmanship and wood-to-metal fit are top-tier.
Cons: That beautiful octagon barrel adds cost and a bit of weight compared to a round profile. The .45 Colt, while a great cartridge, isn’t as ubiquitous or as flat-shooting as something like .30-30. As with all firearms, an FFL transfer is required for firearm purchases when shipping.
Who This Rifle Is For
This carbine is for the shooter who values tradition but doesn’t want to sacrifice utility. It’s for the Missouri hunter who needs a short, fast-handling rifle for whitetail in the timber. It’s for the recreational shooter who enjoys the tactile satisfaction of a lever gun and the classic thump of a big-bore pistol cartridge. It’s also a fantastic choice for a homestead or ranch rifle where its combination of power, compact size, and reliability shines. Priced at $845.90, it sits in that sweet spot of being a serious, heirloom-quality tool without being prohibitively expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you still load this Henry through the tube, or is it side-gate only?
A: You can do both. Henry kept the traditional removable brass tube follower for unloading, but the primary loading is done via the side gate, which is much more convenient.
Q: Is the .45 Colt from this rifle sufficient for deer hunting?
A: Absolutely. With proper modern hunting ammunition (think 225-250 grain bullets at 1600+ fps from this 16″ barrel), the .45 Colt is a very effective deer cartridge within sensible woods ranges of 100 yards or so.
Q: How does it handle with a scope mounted?
A: Very well. The receiver is drilled and tapped, and mounting a scope using a Henry-specific base puts the optic at a good height. That said, the iron sights are so good that many, including myself, prefer to keep it simple and lightweight.
If the idea of a compact, beautifully crafted lever-action that’s as at home on a trail as it is in a deer stand speaks to you, this Henry Big Boy Carbine deserves a close look. It’s available at firearms-missouri.com for Missouri residents and nationwide.
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