Ask anyone who has ever worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor what the most important day in the Marine Corps calendar is and the unanimous reply will be "10 November."
Founded on that date in 1775, it’s a day celebrated with much pomp and circumstance and Birthday Balls take place everywhere you find Marines around the world!
Originally established in Philadelphia with their first unofficial recruiting station located in Tun Tavern, the United States Marine Corps officially turned 250 years old last November.
To commemorate this auspicious milestone, Henry Repeating Arms has launched two Spirit of the Corps 250th Anniversary tribute-edition rifles. Celebrating the USMC and all of those who have served in the past 250 years, the rifles are functioning showpieces that are sure to delight any Devil Dog!
A portion of the proceeds from each rifle sold will be donated to Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families.
Henry is also making an additional $25,000 donation in honor of the anniversary and in memory of the fallen Marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.
The Henry Spirit of the Corps Guns
Henry used its popular Golden Boy rimfire rifle as the platform for one if its the Spirit of the Corps rifles. Chambered for .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle, its versatility makes it perfect for casual plinking, marksmanship training, and small game hunting. It is the perfect foundation for the embellishments that honor the history, traditions and valor of Marines.
Henry has also produced a centerfire Spirit of the Corps rifle in .45-70 Govt with an octagonal, blued steel barrel and polished nickel finish on the receiver and an American walnut stock.
The right side of the Golden Boy model's receiver depicts vignettes from the modern era of the Marine Corps, featuring a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a V-22 Osprey aircraft, and the first words of the Marines’ Hymn, “From the halls of Montezuma.”
On the left side of the receiver, the hymn continues with, “To the shores of Tripoli,” accompanied by scenes portraying Marines from key conflicts throughout history, including the Continental Marines from the Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
Each key detail is 24kt gold-plated atop a background of polished nickel plating. Henry’s engraving is crisp and detailed with easily recognizable features.
The rifle features an American walnut buttstock featuring the iconic image of six Marines raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, with the flag hand-painted in red, white, and blue.
The stock also includes another line from the Marines’ Hymn, “In the air, on land, and sea,” signifying the USMC’s ability to fight in every clime and place is laser cut into the walnut forearm.
More Features and Range Test
These Marine Corps embellishments are sure to warm the heart of any Leatherneck but, just like every Marine is a rifleman first, the Henry Spirit of the Corps is first and foremost a shooter!
Henry repeating Arms outfits this rifle with a 20.5-inch octagonal barrel, rifled with a 1:16” twist to stabilize rimfire bullet weights from 20 to 45 grains. The rear sight is a fully adjustable semi-buckhorn with a diamond while the front sight features an easy-to-see brass bead.
My test sample boasts a very crisp 3-pound trigger, and its hammer has a 1/4 cock for use as a safety.
I fired all of my groups at 50-yards from a seated rest utilizing a DOA Tactical Bench and rested the rifle’s forearm across a Caldwell Tack Driver sand-filled bag to assure a steady sight picture.
Three groups were fired with each type of the following ammunition with the best group recorded in the accuracy chart.
| Ammo | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft. lbs.) | Best Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Copper-22 Small Game 21-grain | 1793 | 149 | 2.02” |
| CCI Clean-22 Polycoated 31-grain | 1509 | 156 | 1.98” |
| CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain | 1166 | 120 | 1.90” |
| Federal Punch 29-grain Flat Nose | 1576 | 159 | 1.88” |
| Winchester Super X 40-grain | 1221 | 132 | 1.82” |
| Average | 1.92” |
Winchester’s Super X 40-grain bullets produced the best 5-shot group measuring just 1.82 inches but the other ammunitions weren’t far behind, in fact, the aggregate group size was just 1.92 inches.
It’s rare to see this level of consistency with a variety of rimfire bullet weights and velocities. Federal’s 29-grain flat nose Punch rounds generated the most energy and, given its accuracy, would probably be my first choice for hunting small game.
Overall, I was very impressed with these groups and my ability to shoot the semi-buckhorn sights so well. Certainly, the gun’s crisp trigger made shooting these small groups easy!
Operation of the lever gun was smooth, as was its cycling, and the extraction and ejection of empty cases was flawless. Henry Repeating Arms Spirit of the Corps rifle shoots as good as it looks.
The Takeaway
This heirloom quality rifle is a great way to display your pride of service and will look great on the wall of your gun room or office; or better yet, to pass down through the family as a symbol of honor, courage and commitment-the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, to remember a cherished family member.
My rifle will eventually find its way to my now 4-year-old grandson, whose great grandfather was just 17 years old when he stormed the volcanic ash beach of Iwo Jima in 1945 with the 5th Marine Division.
It’s my hope that the Henry Spirit of the Corps rifle will inspire him to learn about the Marine Corps, his great grandfather and the sacrifices made by his generation to preserve our way of life in the land of the free and home of the brave! Semper Fidelis!
Henry Spirit of the Corps Rimfire Rifle Specs
Caliber/Capacity: .22 L and .22 LR - 16 rounds, .22 Short - 21 rounds
Action: Lever Action
Overall Length: 38.5 inches
Weight: 6.75 pounds
Barrel: 20 inches octagonal, 1:16” twist
Sights: Rear Sight-Fully Adjustable Semi-Buckhorn with Diamond. Front Sight-Brass Bead
Stocks: American Walnut Buttstock and Forend
LOP: 14 inches
Safety: 1/4 Hammer Cock
MSRP: $1,350
