In the 1980’s, a pioneer in the world of firearm training instruction named Jeff Cooper began to promote the concept of the scout rifle, an easy-carrying rifle that “will do a great many things equally well.” Strictly speaking, these were mostly .308 bolt action rifles, so Henry set out to make their own version of a scout rifle using their own lever action know-how. At the heart of it all lies one of Henry's most popular centerfire rifles, the All-Weather .45-70 Side Gate.

The most identifiable feature of any scout rifle is the ability to mount a low-powered scope up further on the barrel as opposed to on top of the receiver. Mounting the scope closer to the front sight opens a huge amount of peripheral vision and makes target acquisition quick and natural, especially with a bit of practice in aiming and shooting with both eyes open. It also eliminates the possibility of getting struck by the scope due to recoil. Henry's extended picatinny rail provides ample space for you to experiment with this forward-mounting concept. Also in keeping with the scout rifle concept, the extended picatinny rail includes a fully adjustable peep sight to keep you quick on target even without a scope.

Like the other entries in the line of All-Weather rifles, Henry uses a specially treated hardwood for the stocks and a satin hard chrome plating on most of the metal surfaces for exceptional durability. These finishes are permanently bonded to the underlying material and will never chip, peel, or flake. This .45-70 also features a 4-round capacity with Henry's “best of both worlds” removable tube magazine and side loading gate configuration, sling swivel studs, a ventilated rubber recoil pad, and an internal transfer bar safety system.

So, is the Henry All-Weather .45-70 Picatinny Rail Side Gate a scout rifle, brush gun, hunting rifle, or guide gun? Henry will stick with “all of the above” and do so with confidence.

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