Salesmen

[MLB]

I suppose it's their job, but the recommendation I received from the gun counter guy was entirely related to the price of the rifle.

I had a bit of time to kill on Wednesday, so I stopped into the largest gun store in the area. I wanted to compare the Winchester 9422 to the Henry levergun side-to-side. They didn't have the Winchester, but they did have 2 Henrys and a Marlin 39A.

The Henry "Golden Boy" was "as new". A demo the guy said. A few minor scratches in the shiny gold receiver, but otherwise in good shape. It has a gold curved shoulder plate too. (The whole thing has a bit too much "Bling" for my taste though). It was a reasonably good price at $240.

The other Henry had a shiny black receiver that looked like it may be a painted or baked finish. Definitely not blued. This one was NIB and was advertised for about $310 as I recall. Both had the octagon barrels and the actions were smooth and uniform. I was impressed.

The Marlin on the other hand had a blued finish, but it had a machined look to it. Almost rough. The action was mechanical and staged. This rifle is designed to be easily broken down, and as a result has a large thumbscrew protruding out of the right side. The tag on this one was about $450.

You can probably tell from my slanted review that I held the Henry in much higher regard, but I asked the counter guy's opinion anyway. I he said he recommended the Marlin over the Henry because he's always been a Marlin fan. Sounds weak to me. I'm thinking that he's a fan of the extra $150.

Is there something to the 39A that I'm missing?

I still want to handle the 9422 before I decide though.

[TMan]

Maybe I can be of some help, but are you sitting down? I don't own a Marlin ;D

The one you referenced, my dealer has listed for $369. So that is $70 less than you your store was offering it for. You may be able to get them to come down a little on it.

The "blued" receiver on the Henry is actually a power-coated "paint". That is why you can't use gun-scrubber on it or you will destroy it.

I shot a friends Henry and I actually like the feel of the action better than I do for the Winchester 9422, and Henry is still in business.

I don't like the Golden Boy because the two that I've seen did have scratches on them. If I bought one in perfect condition and scratched it, I'd be very upset. More than likely I just wouldn't shoot it for fear of it getting scratched. My wife bought me a Cartier watch for my birthday one year. It has an 18k gold bezel around the crystal, that no matter what I do - it gets scratched. I've had it fixed a couple of times, and now I just don't wear it. A friend had a Rado with the space-age crystal that doesn't scratch. I told her about it, and got it for my next birthday, but the gold model of course. My wife usually goes for looks vs. functionality. The one exception was when she married me.

MLB, I'm not wild about the 9422, nor am I wild about any of the rimfires I have with exception of the Thompson Center Classic. I did buy another rimfire rifle before leaving the states, but I don't remember what it was. I didn't get a chance to clean it or fire it. It was one that she had in stock and was selling at her cost.

Do I believe her when she tells me it is at her cost? Hey, she never told me she loved me, so I don't have any reason not to believe her. ;D

One of the reasons I never considered the Marlins was that I considered them to be low cost plinkers. (I have enough of those). I wasn't aware of the 39A. I hope you decide on it, because I'd really like to know how it shoots. Their web-site makes it look really good.

I'll be going home next week, at last, and I'll see if I have any information on it.

The counter guy being a Marlin fan? I doubt if it was the price. Being paid the high dollars that he is as a counter guy, I'm sure he has shot nothing but the finest. Dang, that sounds catty. I need to hang out more with guys.

[5ontarget]

I like Marlins, but they've always seemed a bit pricy for what they bring to the table. I have an old marlin/glenfield .22 (I forgot the designation) It shoots well, but not any better than my other old .22s. (come to think of it all of my current .22 rifles are all 35+yrs old.) I realize this a a subcontracted semiauto that marlin made, and not the lever action that you are talking about. So forget I mentioned it.

I've been wanting the 1894 model (.357mag/.38spl) for a long time, but I keep passing it over for other guns.

If you like the Henry better, go with it. It doesn't happen very often that our tastes lead us to the less expensive model.

You mentioned that the marlin was design better as far as the break down. That is not a big issue for me. They all get easier with practice.

I actually like the looks of the Henry better than the Marlin, FWIW.

[MLB]

It was easier to break down, but at the expense of aesthetics. I just couldn't figure why it was priced so much higher when it has a rougher action and a poorer finish (in my opinion anyway.)

[TMan]

I just heard back from Paul Manos, who is the customer supervisor at Henry. He is at the Shot Show, which is why he is answering e-mail on the weekend.

He said that the "gold" on the receiver of the Golden Boy is actually a cover. You can replace it for $40 plus shipping.

I see a Golden Boy in Tman's future. A golden-haired girl might be better, but at my age I probably wouldn't remember what to do with her. ;D "Hey beautiful, want to go to the range and shoot some guns?"

Modified to add: I finally did remember what the other gun was that I bought: it is a Browning Grade I.



It has a lot of oil or grease all over the metal so it got shelved until I have the time to clean it and prepare it for shooting.

www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=022B&cat_id=021&type_id=001

[TMan]

So while I was picking up my PPK/s, I walked over behind the counter to the rifles, and much to my dismay, the Henry Golden Boy was gone. I asked her about it and she said that her husband wanted it and she put it aside for him.

Then she looked at her distributor's web-site and said: "They are available, I don't know why he wanted it put aside." So, she agreed to sell it to me for $229, which was what she paid for it, and it was a rifle that had been in stock for a long time and was part of what she told me she would sell me at her cost to get rid of inventory.

I want you to know that on rare occasions I actually do think. I then asked her what the current price to replace it from the distributor would be. Whoops: $298. Now if I'm ever shot by an irate husband, I don't want it to be over a gun!!! Therefore, I wrote her a check for $298.

I haven't shot it yet, but I'll tell you what (southern term): the action is a lot better than on my Winchester 9422. What clown ever talked me into that 9422? ;D

Oh, did I mention that customer service at Henry Repeating Arms is second to none.

[MLB]

TMan, sometimes I'm afraid to mention the latest firearm that I'm considering for fear that you'll pick one up, and It'll be crap. ;D Fortunatlely, I'm relatively sure that I've only actually recommended one, and that turned out pretty well.

[TMan]

MLB, don't wait until too long to decide if you want to get a Winchester. My dealer had quite a few in stock and when the word got out about them being discontinued, her stock got wiped out quickly.

I don't know if you have your heart set on a lever action or not. I noticed that after operating the lever for awhile, the back of my hand got a little sore.

I think of the 22LRs that I own or have shot, the one that has impressed me the most is the Thompson Center Classic. For $274 it was also a good buy.

There are other great 22LRs out there, but some of them approach the price of some of my 1911's. One of the best I've hear about is the Cooper Custom Classic, which is around $1900. There are also many models of Anschultz that are up there in 4 figures. Then of course are the Kimbers and Volquartsen's.

I bought a Remington 597 from Academy for $98. It shoots 22lr. I could have bought 19 of those for the price of the Cooper. Some day when I have more money than brains.. Oh, you guys already thought I was there huh?

[MLB]

I'll likely end up with the Henry for the simple reason that I already have the Winchester 94. Well, that and TMan's review. I'd just like to give the 9422 the once over before giving up on it.

[TMan]

MLB, what can I say - you have good taste. I'd forgotten that you had a Model 94. That got me to thinking. One day at the dealers I remember looking at both a couple of 94s and the Henry Big Boy.

I've always wanted a 94, and she had two - one chambered in 45LC and the other in 44 Magnum. She had to leave to pick up her kids, and by the time she returned, I had decided on the 94 in 45LC. Then what happened? I vaguely remember buying it, but where is it? I checked the safe, noticed the Browning Classic was in there in the corner still in its box. Then I checked the gun cabinet that has the military rifles, no model 94. The nice things about rifles is they are big and can't hide.

As the day progressed it really started bothering me. I checked my receipts, and there it was a 94 Trapper for $339. Did I bring it home? Could it be in the trunk of one of the cars? Could I have left it in the garage? I went up into the attic, and found the box the gun came in.

Blood-pressure up!!! I decided at this point that a) I shouldn't own guns, b) no one could have come into the house and taken it, c) there is no point continuing to look over and over in the same places.

I decided to cool down, and clean the Browning so I could take it to the range this week. I pulled out the box, and guess what was behind it in the corner - yup, the Trapper. Guess I should have bought a 94 with a longer barrel.

I spent the rest of the afternoon looking for my syringe of Wilson oil.

I used to say that I don't go hunting. I don't say that anymore. I spend most of my time running around the house hunting for things I can't find. Being away for extended periods of time doesn't help either. Good thing I was in the military. I learned a lot of choice words to use for instances like this. Well, now days you can hear the same words on network television.

[MLB]

Funny you mention the Big Boy in .45LC. I was out at one of my least favorite gun shops last night, Gander Mountain. I really had no intention of purchacing any firearms there, just to fondle a 9422. No dice.

They did have the Henry Big Boy .45LC though. One of the 3 leverguns they had there. Stock is low they say. Ah well. I picked up a box of .22's and some beef jerky. That stuff just can't be good for you.

[TMan]

mlb said:

... I picked up a box of .22's and some beef jerky. That stuff just can't be good for you.

Well, I hope that you got the copper coated 22's, the lead ones certainly can't be good for you.

[MLB]

Just in case there's anyone else with a bent for a lever action, someone sent me the following link from "down under" comparing several options:

www.ssaa.org.au/OFFICIALREVIEWS/22leveraction/22LEVEREVIEW.htm

My quest for the elusive Winchester continues. WalMart is a no-go. (They did have the base Henry though) Just as well, I'd hate to have to buy it there anyway.