“He carried a Henry rifle(12)”.
-The Henry rifle was designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry in the late 1850’s and was able to fire at a rate of 28 rounds per minute. As a soldier in the Civil War, having this rifle was a major advantage. Soldiers would get them because they thought it would improve their chances of surviving. This characterizes Chaney well because he is obviously a man who only cares about himself. Portis most likely chose this gun for Chaney to illustrate to the reader Chaney’s self-centered, malicious ways.
That's an interesting and unexpected take. I wonder if each weapon in the novel might have some non-literal purpose.
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