Although it was a better
mechanical design than its
rival, the
Spencer Rifle, the Henry Repeater was not chosen by the
Union Army during the
Civil War because it was not as
rugged. A comparison could be made to the
M16's initial problems with
harsh-environment reliability due to its precise
fit and finish. However, it was very popular with those familiar with it, and many soldiers bought one
out of their own pocket.
A famous incident involving the Henry involved a single man, James Wilson, who killed seven men that attacked his house using only eight shots. His ability to fire in rapid succession without having to remove the weapon from his shoulder overwhelmed the numerically superior, but lesser armed, criminals.