June 30, 2025 Repeating Success in American Manufacturing

Volume 28 | Issue 2

Henry Repeating Arms is a leading firearms manufacturer that are "Made in America or Not Made at All!"

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Benjamin Tyler Henry patented the first practical lever action repeating rifle in 1860; in 1997 Anthony Imperato took out a home equity loan to take the Henry name to the next level as an American firearms manufacturer that represents the highest standards of quality, innovation, iconic designs, customer service, and community involvement.

“We started out in in a 7,000 square-foot space in Brooklyn with a handful of employees,” the CEO and Founder of Henry Repeating Arms. After previously starting up a company called Colt Blackpowder Arms Company a few years earlier, Imperato and his father, Louis, acquired the trademark to the Henry name and embarked on making the brand synonymous with made in America manufacturing.

Today, Henry Repeating arms manufactures over 200 models of rifles, shotguns, revolvers, lever action pistols, youth and special edition models in a variety of calibers and finishes. As the leading lever action manufacturer, Henry also ranks in the Top 5 of all long gun manufacturers as well as the Top 10 of all firearms manufacturers.

While other companies outsourced offshore, Imperato expanded domestic operations. “In 2006 we acquired a parts supplier in Wisconsin, and hired on Andy Wickman, who continues today as our company president, and 17 others,” he explains. “We were growing slowly, transitioning to a new facility in Bayonne, New Jersey, eventually moving assembly work fully to Wisconsin.” This March, Henry transferred all of its New Jersey operations to a newly expanded, 400,000 square feet manufacturing facility in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

“It makes us more efficient and productive to do soup to nuts operations in one place,” Imperato says. “It’s an exciting time for us to combine world class craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art technology in the heartland of America.”

Henry also faces a more competitive landscape, thanks in part to the company’ own success. “About 10 years ago we had very little competition. But as consumer demand for lever action firearms grew, more competitors have jumped in,” Imperato says. Henry, however, just continues to excel at what it has done from its beginnings: provide quality customers have come to expect over the years.

Lifetime Guarantee

Every Henry firearm is backed by a lifetime 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. “Quality is number one, and that is one of key competitive differentiators,” Imperato says. “We have not charged a single person for a repair. In fact, due to our continuous pursuit of the highest quality, very little of what we manufacture ever comes back for repair.”

He points out that even while some manufacturing operations are automated for improved efficiency, quality final assembly remains in the hands of expert workmanship to ensure highly accurate and reliable performance. “Henry firearms are noted for smooth actions as well as a variety of options for a variety of applications. Not much has changed technically with lever action mechanism since the days of Benjamin Tyler Henry, but fine tuning the pieces of that mechanism and satisfying high tolerances are still what makes the difference. Consumers recognize Henry not just for the quality of our firearms, but the quality relationships we maintain with people who are more than just customers, but part of the Henry family.”

To help maintain that quality, Henry bucks some of the conventional wisdom regarding JIT inventory management. “Quick and reliable delivery is paramount. We don’t ever want to get caught not having the parts we need to fill customer orders, so we maintain months of parts supplies well in advance.”

The fourth element of Henry’s success in addition to product quality, employee dedication to customer service, and made in America manufacturing is good corporate citizenship. Imperato is a recipient of the National Rifle Association’s Recognition Award for Distinguished Philanthropic Leadership as well as the prestigious Humanitarian Award from the New York Police Department Committee of Police Societies (NYPD COPS).

Guns for Great Causes

The charitable arm of Henry is Guns for Great Causes, with a primary focus on providing financial relief for families of children with pediatric cancer. The most recent example is donation of all sales for a limited-edition series of fifty lever-action rifles deemed “Team Baylee” to support treatment costs for Baylee Rush, diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), a rare and aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer. Total proceeds are expected to exceed $40,000.

Guns for Causes also donates to military benefits, law enforcement, and first responder organizations, as well as groups involved with wildlife conservation, shooting sports, firearm safety education, and 2nd Amendment advocacy. Over the years, Guns for Causes donation exceed $3.5 million.

“I think it is important for any company to give back to the community, “Imperato emphasizes. “I also wanted to counteract the anti-gun rhetoric that our industry suffers. We are good corporate citizens, contributing to the economy and paying taxes.” He cites a recent statistic that the impact of the firearms industry was $91.7 billion in 2024 during which it paid nearly $11 billion in business taxes. The company also supports a number of safety and educational programs, including the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, National 4-H, and NSSF Project Child Safe.

The core of Henry’s ability to deliver on its promises of quality and complete customer satisfaction is its workers. The company employs over 800, many of which have been with Henry from 25 to 30 years. While Henry faces the same dilemma as most manufacturers to attract and retain the necessary talent, its reputation as a leading firearms manufacturer that gives back to the community helps it stand out.

“In Wisconsin we’re in an area with a small population that doesn’t have a big labor pool,” Imperato notes. “We are partnering with local technical schools as a way to recruit future generations. And in a strong economy, there’s always going to be competition for skilled labor. But what we can offer is a beautiful place to work and raise a family. In fact, we’re getting inquiries from all over country from people with the gunsmithing skills sets we require.”

Henry sells primarily to dealers in the U.S., as well as to Canada and through some international importers. The first model produced, the Henry H001 Classic Lever Action .22, is still one of the most popular rifles on the market with over one million sold worldwide, well regarded for its combination of looks and ease of use, as well affordable pricing. The model is so popular among enthusiasts, in fact, that serial number 1,000,000 fetched over $50,000 at auction as a collector’s item.

Imperato has been described as one of the most accessible company owners, readily available at trade shows and going out of his way to talk to customers. As the company and firearms industry in general evolves, Henry Repeating Arms steadfastly aims to innovate while still staying true to its roots and its core values. As the company introduces new, innovative lever-action rifles and expand into other segments thanks to its increased capacity and capabilities in Wisconsin, Henry promises to continue providing the personal touch and quality firearm enthusiasts, shooting competitors, hunters, and collectors have come to expect.

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