Jul 25, 2015 3 min read

Why do I give so much attention to Henry rifles? I’ll explain later but I received an invitation from Leslie Precision, the local connection that makes the actions and working parts of Henry rifles, to attend a presentation at the 116th VFW convention in Pittsburgh.

Six specially engraved military tribute rifles were presented to six heroes who served their country in the military. One rifle was given to the VFW Commander in Chief John W. Stroud, who spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, by the president of Henry Repeating Arms, Anthony Imperato.

Imperato also donated $50,000 to the VFW in honor of his father, who served in Korea.

Stroud was elected Commander-in-Chief of the VFW July 23, 2014. He served from 1976 through 1997 in Korea in the Air Force with the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base as flight operation superintendent. His decorations include four Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Comendation Medals, three Air Force Achievement Medals, the Korea Defense Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

The other five distinguished veterans presented at the convention were Chief Warrant Officer Eugene L. Perrino, Sr; Command Sargent Major, retired; Tim Green; John Wrinkle, U.S. Navy; Shannon F. Brown retired Tech Sargent; and Air National Guard and U.S. Marines 3rd Battalian Michael Depew.

All five have amazing service records and were very much deserving of this award. Their service to our country should be recognized and I was proud to hear of Imperato’s and Henry Repeating Arms’ generosity.

At the beginning of this piece, I ask why Henry?

You must remember the company’s motto, “If it’s not made in America, it won’t be made.”

Not only is this rifle made in America, but the major components are made here in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

I have talked to most of the workers at Leslie Precision and they are local residents from places such as Belle Vernon, Greensburg and Washington.

Unlike the drilling industry, the working parts of a Henry Rifle are from here at home.

If you can name another major firearms manufacturer with local ties, please let me know. Of course, the closest to a gun maker would be E.R. Shaw, which makes barrels at its plant near Bridgeville.

While they do sell a fine rifle with the name Shaw on it, I do believe the only part made locally is the barrel.

They also employ local workers and are to be commended for putting out a good product and offering jobs to locals for quite some time now.

I tend to support a local company over one that offers a firearm that is imported. I can’t help it.

This is common in the firearms industry. An example would be Weatherby Vanguards, which use a Howa action, which, of course, is made in Japan.

This is not bad for the Howa is a good strong action.

• It seems the rains have slowed and the farmers are cutting hay. That means it is time to hunt groundhogs.

Also, the streams and ponds are back to normal and fishing also is available.

On the subject of fishing, a friend called and said he was catching walleye at Pymatuming Reservoir. That is unusual at this time of year but he also said the water was cooler than normal.

The rain taketh away but maybe it also giveth.

George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.