The new Henry Special Products Division (SPD) is committed to creating an all-new series of customized firearms for specific applications, but the actual products are a secondary focus, sort of. In short, the Henry SPD is a new division within Henry in Rice Lake Wisconsin that challenges teams of Engineers and Product experts to develop the “perfect” product solution to specific applications.
The SPD’s first iteration, what NRA Media is tentatively calling the “Ultimate Suppressor Host” answers the question of how to maintain balance and ergonomic comfort while using a suppressor on a lever-action rifle. Using a Banish 46 suppressor from Silencer Central as their model, Henry’s first goal was to remove weight equal to the suppressor (about 12 .5 ounces) entirely from the muzzle end of the new gun so that when you compare the new SPD “Suppressor Host” model with a can attached to the company’s standard Big Boy X Model with no can, they feel and point the same.
To do that, they first swapped the standard steel barrel with a 16-inch, carbon-fiber barrel from BSF. Next, they added a laminate rear stock with aggressive inletting to further shave weight, and added an aluminum Tapco fore-end, complete with M-Lok slots for accessories.
NRA Media was lucky enough to get their hands on a prototype test model of the new firearm, and while some minor changes will be made to the production model—mainly regarding the coloring of the metal parts and checkering on the stock—our initial testing of the new lever-action revealed incredible balance and astonishing accuracy. They knocked it out of the park.
The new Henry SPD “Ultimate Suppressor Host” lever-action will be available in all the classic lever-action chamberings, including .44 Mag., .45 Colt, .30-30 Win. and .45-70 Government. And of course, these firearms, like every Henry firearm, are all American made.
“The Henry SPD represents the very best products Henry company can produce,” says George Thompson, director of product at Henry Repeating Arms. “Hyper-focused on maximizing performance for very specific applications, the new SPD is not just about making a better gun, it’s about making the perfect gun for the intended use.”
We are told there will be another launch from the Henry SPD later this year, and even more in the works for 2026. Frankly, we can’t wait to see what the Henry SPD puts out next.
For more information, visit henryusa.com, or check out the video embedded above.
