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Work order — Henry Big Boy

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 3 of 3

66 parts, with a trigger/hammer linkage of rocker, sear rocker spring, trigger lock and spring, transfer bar and link, plus a carrier dog, carrier dog spring and lever plunger. Henry says nothing past cleaning should be taken apart and sends further disassembly to a gunsmith. It is a lever action with a linked transfer-bar trigger, so it sits with the Marlins at the hard end of the rifle group, on thin outside evidence. 66 parts (Big Boy (H006, brass/silver receiver) list; H012 Steel list omitted). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~50 min, rebuild ~80 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• Gunsmith screwdrivers — Lever, hammer, carrier, trigger guard plate and outer magazine screws (brass receiver mars easily)
• Pin punches — Sear trigger, transfer bar, carrier dog and lever plunger pins
• Brass/nylon drift — Dovetail sights

Watch for:

• Henry says the rifle is not to be taken apart past the manual and that further disassembly belongs to a gunsmith. (both; Henry Repeating Arms)
• The trigger group is a linkage of rocker, trigger lock, sear rocker spring, transfer bar and link that has to be reassembled under spring load to work as a transfer-bar safety. (reassembly; Henry Repeating Arms)
• The carrier is driven by a sprung carrier dog on a pin, and the lever by a plunger and spring, both of which have to be held while their pins go in. (reassembly; Henry Repeating Arms)

Tools

• Pull-through bore cleaning kit — Cleaning the bore from breech to muzzle, as Henry directs.

1. Clear and make safe

Manufacturer's video: Big Boy .44 Loading (Henry Repeating Arms)
https://www.henryusa.com/own-a-henry/instructional-videos/firearm-guides/big-boy-h006/

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Twist and withdraw the inner magazine tube from the front of the outer tube under the barrel.
   Warning: The magazine spring is compressed inside. Withdraw it under control.
3. Tip the rifle muzzle-down so any remaining cartridges roll out of the outer tube, and count them out.
4. Work the lever fully open and closed repeatedly, catching each cartridge, until nothing more feeds.
5. With the lever open, inspect the chamber, the carrier, and the magazine tube with a light.
   Warning: Three places: chamber, carrier, and tube.
6. Physically confirm the chamber is empty and remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Manufacturer's video: Big Boy .44 Disassembly (Henry Repeating Arms)
https://www.henryusa.com/own-a-henry/instructional-videos/firearm-guides/big-boy-h006/

Field Strip — Lever and Bolt Removal

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure. Make sure the hammer is in the fired-down position — the safety only functions as designed with the hammer down — and keep all ammunition out of the cleaning area.
   Warning: The manual is explicit that the hammer must be down before cleaning. Never test the mechanical function of the rifle with live ammunition.
2. Open the action by cycling the lever forward and inspect the chamber and bore for brass, copper, and powder fouling.
3. Clean the bore in the direction of bullet travel — breech to muzzle — using a pull-through kit.
   Tip: Cleaning muzzle to breech drags powder residue out of the bore and into the chamber and action, which is how a rifle ends up needing a gunsmith to clean it properly. A rod and patches work if you are careful with the muzzle crown.
4. Use a clean patch each pass. Never reverse a brush inside the barrel, and never run a brush down the barrel first.
   Tip: Reversing a brush bends the bristles like bending a wire until it snaps. A brush sent down first picks up dirt and moisture and deposits them in the chamber and receiver.
5. Use only a few drops of solvent or oil — no more than the patch will absorb.
   Tip: Excess solvent drips into the trigger mechanism and makes it gummy; excess oil drains back into the stock and can rot the wood.
6. Wipe the bolt clean of debris with solvent and a patch or small rag, then lightly oil it.
7. Coat all exposed metal with a film of oil. Do not leave fired cases in the chamber — moisture sweats out of them and causes rust.
8. Stop here. Henry states plainly that it is not necessary to take a Henry lever action apart to keep it clean, and that you may permanently damage it by disassembling the inner mechanisms.
   Warning: Do not take this rifle apart further than the manual explains. If further disassembly is required for service, take it to a qualified gunsmith.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (66 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Manufacturer's video: Big Boy .44 Reassembly (Henry Repeating Arms)
https://www.henryusa.com/own-a-henry/instructional-videos/firearm-guides/big-boy-h006/

Reassembly

1. Confirm the bore and chamber are dry of excess solvent and that no patch or bristle is left in the action.
2. If the inner magazine tube was removed for loading or cleaning, seat it fully and lock it.
3. Cycle the lever through several full strokes and confirm smooth operation and full lockup.
4. Confirm the hammer comes to full cock at the end of the lever stroke and that the half-cock notch holds.
5. With the rifle empty, confirm the trigger does not release the hammer with the lever partly open.
6. Run a dry patch through the bore before shooting.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Reported by other sources — not the manufacturer

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Loosen the screw to the right of the white diamond, raise or lower as needed to correct elevation, then re-tighten the screw." (Henry Big Boy — Instruction Manual for All H006 and H012 Series Rifles and Pistols, PDF p. 9)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Transfer bar function — The hammer must not reach the firing pin unless the trigger is held back; check after reassembly
• Lever/carrier timing through the stroke — Carrier dog and lever plunger must lift and release the carrier cleanly
• Sight re-zero — Dovetail sights moved

6. Function check

• Verify the rifle is unloaded — chamber, carrier, and magazine tube — before each step.
• Cycle the lever fully and confirm the bolt locks up with the lever closed.
• With the hammer cocked, engage the safety if fitted and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Confirm the lever safety, where fitted, prevents firing with the lever not fully closed.
• Load dummy rounds through the magazine tube and cycle them, confirming they feed from the carrier and eject cleanly.
• Confirm the inner magazine tube latches securely.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. Henry Big Boy — Instruction Manual for All H006 and H012 Series Rifles and Pistols — Henry Repeating Arms primary
   https://www.henryusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Henry-H006-Legacy-H012-Series-User-Manual.pdf
2. H6 Big Boy Rifle & Carbine | Henry Repeating Arms — Specifications — Henry Repeating Arms primary
   https://www.henryusa.com/firearm/h6-big-boy-rifle-carbine/
3. Midwest Industries Henry Extended Handguard Sight System (MI-H5XRS / MI-H4XRS / MI-H357XRS / MI-H3030XRS) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. secondary
   https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/Henry-Extended-Handguard-Sight-System-Instructions.pdf
4. Midwest Industries Henry M-LOK Handguard G2 (MI-H4570 / MI-H357 / MI-H44-45 / MI-H3030) — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. secondary
   https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/Henry-M-LOK-Handguard-G2-Instructions.pdf
5. Midwest Industries Henry H5/H4 Ghost Ring Rail — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. secondary
   https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/Henry-H5-H4-Ghost-Ring-Rail-Instructions.pdf
6. Midwest Industries Henry X4 Ghost Ring Rail — Instructions — Midwest Industries, Inc. secondary
   https://midwestindustriesinc.com/content/installation-instructions/Henry-X4-Ghost-Ring-Rail-Instructions.pdf
7. XS Sights Lever Rail & Rear Sight Installation — Marlin 1895/336/1894, Henry, Rossi R95 — XS Sights secondary
   https://xssights.com/content/Install%20Instructions/Lever%20Rail%20%26%20Rear%20Sight%20Installation%20-%20Marlin%201895-336-1894-Henry-Rossi%20R95%20compiled.pdf
8. XS Sights Henry Lever Rail — Installation Insert (2021) — XS Sights secondary
   https://xssights.com/content/Install%20Instructions/Henry%20Lever%20Rail%20Insert%202021.pdf
9. XS Sights LVR-HG Henry M-LOK Handguard — Installation (All Calibers) — XS Sights secondary
   https://xssights.com/content/Install%20Instructions/Henry%20Handguard%20Installation%20All%20Calibers.pdf

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.