| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 21/12/15 03:37 AM |
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Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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As always, being on the lookout for the rare and unusual (or, the usual, meaning usually nobody else will buy it...), I came across this 12bore rifle at a recent auction.
There are a couple disclosed issues with it.
The hammer is a replacement which, although a decent job, is not correct in that it allows all of the force to be born on the firing pin. In most guns this is proper, but the Henry design has such hammer force that the remedy was for the underside of the "dolphin" hammer to actually contact the top of the action body. There must be some amount of final filing to insure adequate firing pin engagement and that the underside of the hammer has nice flat engagement with the action.
That is why Henrys have such a distinctive hammer shape.
Anyway, the hammer and the overall used condition were the only negatives in the description and as you may know, I actually love rifles with honest signs of heavy use. IMO, they have soul and of course are more affordable!
Now, to the unexpected surprise.
The bore in this gun is absolutely beautiful Henry rifling! Oh, there are a few areas with very slight surface roughness but look as though they will clean out well. By the looks of the chamber, it will use a paper shell but the bore is, I believe, .739" so it might take a brass case.
Just one oiled felt donut pushed through with zero scrubbing revealed this:
Here is the rest of the rifle:
The auction photo
And for a funny comparison of the 12b, a 450/400 and a small frame for the 360 2-1/4"
The more common 450 sized frame is just a little bit bigger than the 400 but mine is a left hammer so wouldn't fit in the lineup.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 21/12/15 04:28 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Nice - thanks for Posting these fine rifles.
| rigbymauser |
| (.400 member) |
| 21/12/15 07:22 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Rare rifle it is. Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas.
J.
| TH44 |
| (.375 member) |
| 21/12/15 09:46 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Wow Huvius - you certainly seem to find them! Trebly good being a bore rifle, as Jens says, a rare find
The Hammer replacement is ok for you to shoot it (range reports looked forward to)
AH hammers may be slightly difficult?? to make, the lip under the hammer is to catch in the slot in the top of the falling block to prevent accidental discharge if the hammer is down when lifting the block with a live round in the chamber, stopping it "flipping" and firing the round [IIRC we have discussed this before on one of the forums]
Good luck to you as usual for shooting, I wish we could shoot our rifles with less hassle here in the UK!
Tony
| chapmen |
| (.300 member) |
| 22/12/15 05:11 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Just wow. Every time i see this kind of rifles i am wondering about one point- maybe someone can give me an answer?
In the last pic with the three rifles i see at two rifles the little "safety" which blocate the hammer.
Does this "safety" bloc the hammer in cocked or uncocked position?
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 22/12/15 05:37 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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The safety is engaged at half-cock on all of the Henry falling blocks I have seen.
This very topic is being discussed over on the muzzleloader section.
| chapmen |
| (.300 member) |
| 22/12/15 06:00 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Quote:
This very topic is being discussed over on the muzzleloader section.
by search for "safety" i dont find relating postings in the muzzleloaders section. What would be the key word for search?
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 22/12/15 06:25 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Sorry, I was mistaken.
It is in this forum.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....true#Post275443
| Kynoch |
| (.224 member) |
| 30/12/15 07:38 AM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Congrats! PM Sent
| Wayne59 |
| (.400 member) |
| 30/12/15 12:06 PM |
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Re: Adams London 12b Henry Patent Rifle
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Condition may be a little on the low side but I sure would be proud to own it.