9mm carbine… by Henry!

I don't know what to think. At first I was really excited that someone's actually making a halfway attractive PCC with a wood stock.

But then I realized that I'm ambivalent about pistol caliber carbines in general. And especially when they tend to be really heavy and cumbersome.

In my mind, the one and only significant purpose for a carbine like that is around the house. A "leaning up against the bedside table" sort of thing. In theory, such a gun would be:

• A nice blend of moderate (but not necessarily over-penetrative) power
• Small / light / nimble to use in a house
• Relatively lower noise / lower flash than a 5.56 rifle, or a handgun in the same caliber

The Beretta CX4 Storm is advertised as 5.6 pounds and 29.7" overall length, and that's the most I'd want it to be. It may look like a Star Wars prop gun, but the specifications and ergonomics are good.

The Ruger PC carbine is advertised as >1 pound heavier, and >4 inches longer than the Beretta, and I always found it to be surprisingly fat and clunky for what it is -- a rifle chambered for a medium-powered pistol cartridge. Thus I've never really been impressed with the Ruger.

Maybe I'm missing the data in the articles on the Henry, but I have not yet seen the specs on the Henry in terms of weight and overall length.

Also, regarding that wood stock and receiver finish......

In the world of shotguns, that wood is what you'd call "crate wood". It looks slightly better than some old Walmart 870 Express, but not a lot better.

This photo, pasted below, makes me worry that the finish is a dull matte that will easily be scuffed up. Proper, glossy bluing is more durable in the long run.

To be honest, Henry could have gone more up-market for my tastes, even if it added on another $200 or $300 to MSRP. This rifle is put to shame by some of the nicer Browning BAR versions. This looks like a gun I'd expect from some more "popularly priced" brands (including Ruger), but not from Henry.

(And no, I'm not saying the gun is in the same market category as a BAR. I'm just saying Browning knows how to make a lovely rifle that stands out from the Tupperware Gun riffraff, and Henry should have followed suit.)

On the up-side.....

The pressed "checkering" (or whatever you'd call that) at least looks to be good and sharp, for grip with sweaty or gloved hands.

The butt pad is a traditional, flat attachment to the wood. Lately a lot of shotgun and rifle manufacturers have been building stupid / proprietary curved butts that only fit their own pads. Take a look at the Franchi Affinity shotgun butt as a horrific example. Seems like Henry got this one right so you can always add on a longer pad, as an easy way to adjust LOP.

I also like the safety position and size / shape. It looks easy to find and use with gloves on.

Screen grabs from one of the SHOT Show videos showing the wood and metal up close.

The wood is bland but "good enough" for a pickup truck gun or casual plinker. (But that's not it's price point. At least... not by pre-pandemic price standards.)

There is already a nick taken out of the wood at the front of the comb. It's probably soft and will not age well.

The texturing does look very grippy.

The metal finish is also looking very "popularly priced" in appearance. Yes I know it's dusty and dirty from being demoed outdoors, but this is certainly not a "hang over the mantle" gun in my estimation.

In my opinion, this isn't the 9mm carbine Henry should have made.

I'll be interesting to see what it weighs in at, and how good / bad the trigger pull is.