The original Henry had the half cock, just like the Model 1866 Win. and the 1873 Win. that came after it. The store clerk has been watching to many Henry (in name only) commercials.
A good gun,and a good company, but the only thing like the original, is the brass colored frame.

 

Actually it is only the golden boy rimfires that have brass colored receivers. The Big Boy pistol caliber rifles and one of the 30 - 30 models have actually a solid brass receiver.

 

The Big boy has no half cock the hammer can only hit the firing pin if the trigger is pulled due to a transfer bar firing system. No manual safety or half cock is required for this gun to be safe.