With the development of B. Tyler Henry's improvements in metallic rimfire cartridge and his additional improvements in Volcanic frame, direct predecessor to Winchester lever-action repeater was born. New cartridge was .44-caliber rimfire. Henry rifle featured 24" octagon barrel, with tubular magazine holding 15 shells. Rifle had no forearm. Furnished with walnut buttstock and two styles of buttplates: early rounded heel crescent shape seen on guns produced from 1860 to 1862; later sharper heel crescent butt found on guns built from 1863 to 1866. Early models produced from 1860 to 1861 were fitted with an iron frame; later models built from 1861 to 1866 were fitted with brass frames. About 14,000 Henry rifles were made during entire production period; only about 300 were iron frame rifles.