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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle
      #268739 - 30/07/15 10:21 AM

Hi Guys,

I got my rifle back recently after having the barrels rebrowned and this past weekend I decided to take some photos. These turned out pretty well so I thought that I should post some for the archive. This rifle was purchased on March 3, 1888 by Archibald James Leofric Blackwood, styled Viscount Clandeboye and later, the Earl of Ava.

From the original ledger entry:

• Double barrel center fire elephant rifle
• Best quality
• 8-bore
• 26-in barrels
• Lefaucheux action
• Back action locks
• Rebounding hammers
• Front bolts
• Pistol Hand
• Cheek Piece (either an error or it was cut off)
• 1-7/8" x 2-3/4" x 14-1/4"
• Anti-recoil heel plate
• Eyes for a sling
• No. 7 sloping rear sight, standing leaf only
• March 3, 1888
• 16 pounds 11 ounces
• Usual 3-3/4" paper case
• 12 drams
• One cloth wad
• One felt wad
• 0.843" diameter hardened spherical bullet
• Viscount Clandeboye
• London branch
























A photo of the Earl of Ava in his 17th Lancers Uniform (taken between 1886 and 1892)

A couple of videos that were shot using a friend's iPhone 6
(10-drams Goex Olde Eynsford ffg, 1250-grain empty Forsyth shell)

[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_Me%20Firing%208-Bore-03.mp4[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_Me%20Firing%208-Bore-01.mp4[/IMG]

Lots of fire and smoke!!!

Edited by Watson577 (31/07/15 08:43 AM)

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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3524
Loc: Colorado
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #268740 - 30/07/15 10:29 AM

WOW!!
What a great gun!

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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Iowa_303s
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Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1014
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Huvius]
      #268742 - 30/07/15 11:10 AM

Stunning!

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder όber alles"

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AZDAVE
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Reged: 12/02/09
Posts: 75
Loc: Arizona, USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #268743 - 30/07/15 11:53 AM

Fantastic. thank you for sharing

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3DogMike
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Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1414
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: AZDAVE]
      #268745 - 30/07/15 01:43 PM

A real beauty............who did the re-brown? Very nice looking job.
- Mike

--------------------
"Here's to killing people you don't like with people you do"

"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: 3DogMike]
      #268750 - 30/07/15 02:38 PM

Wonderful and very wel presented. I would love a double in 8-bore one day, but rare.

What is the box or case it is sitting on? Another nice piece, looks like a extra tall gun case/box.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: NitroX]
      #268752 - 30/07/15 03:02 PM

Yes - lovely indeed! I do believe I could be "coaxed" into firing such a beauty - at least once.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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500Boswell
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Loc: Queensland
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: DarylS]
      #268759 - 30/07/15 04:03 PM

Couldnt think of anything better, than going on a African Hunt with that rifle ! mmmmmmmmm !

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: 3DogMike]
      #268801 - 31/07/15 07:40 AM

Hi Mike,

Steve Davis in Michigan prepared the barrels and Buck Hamlin in Missouri rebrowned them. The Damascus pattern is virtually impossible to see and from what I was told, this is because these barrels have very little iron in them. This makes sense to me from what I can see. Steve has a lot of experience with Scottish guns and he has also owned guns that were originally purchased by Charles Gordon, the eccentric Scottish collector of mostly John Dickson firearms. Steve tells me that the color on these barrels is just like it would have been when they left the Alexander Henry workshop and I believe him.

- Jim

Edited by Watson577 (31/07/15 11:44 AM)

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: 500Boswell]
      #268802 - 31/07/15 07:50 AM

Very nice indeed, made me get out my H&H 8 bore Ball Gun, not best quality but OK

Specifications are almost identical, barrels, weight, case length but 10 drams only! and a year ealier



TH44

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: NitroX]
      #268804 - 31/07/15 08:08 AM

Hi John,

The oak & leather case was originally built for a set of three 12-bore game guns with 30" barrels. I bought it at the Holt's auction last month and my intent is to fit the case for this 8-bore rifle. The case appears to be from the same period as the rifle and it has the right look to me--good condition with just enough evidence of use to add character. Just like the rifle.

- Jim

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: TH44]
      #268805 - 31/07/15 08:16 AM

TH44,

Thank you for uploading the photo. Your H&H 8-bore looks like a very nice original rifle. Have you ever shot it?

Regards,

Jim

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: TH44]
      #268809 - 31/07/15 09:56 AM

Quote:

Very nice indeed, made me get out my H&H 8 bore Ball Gun, not best quality but OK

Specifications are almost identical, barrels, weight, case length but 10 drams only! and a year ealier



TH44



I would put on my PAST shoulder pad and go to Africa with that one, myself.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #268810 - 31/07/15 10:00 AM

Jim - There is a long thread here some years ago about it, I do not know how to find it!!

I shot it under a dealer's certificate at the time (awkward laws here) but cannot remember this load



This was at 25 yards offhand - about as good as I can shoot!
10 drams BP was certainly "stout", your 12 drams would be interesting

Good luck shooting yours, I wish there was more opportunity over here

Tony

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TH44
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Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: TH44]
      #268812 - 31/07/15 10:09 AM

Jim/Daryl

I just remembered (Alz!) I bought a Kindle last year and got a couple of the F C Selous' lesser known books

The guy who bought this (Mr Fountaine) went to Africa the year after he bought it (1877/8) and was guided by Selous himself!

A good bit of provenance

Tony

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DarylS
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: TH44]
      #268813 - 31/07/15 12:24 PM

With the double I had, a cheap Kodiak, 58, more powder opened the crossing barrels to a parallel group, then more powder over that made them cross again.

It's a pity you cannot get out with it shooting whenever you want - stupid laws.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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szihn
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Reged: 24/06/07
Posts: 2110
Loc: Wind River Valley, Wyoming
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: DarylS]
      #268823 - 01/08/15 12:54 AM

Now that is a fine looking rifle.

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: szihn]
      #268828 - 01/08/15 04:44 AM


Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful rifle. Actually it has been awhile a bore rifle has been for sale. There is one on Holt΄s from Belgium but Otherwise they are becomming rare. Perhaps Cals writing/posting etc have made them attractive for many doublerifle enthusiats?.

J.

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Matabele
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Reged: 16/09/10
Posts: 230
Loc: Zimbabwe
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: rigbymauser]
      #268831 - 01/08/15 05:05 AM

I have a weak spot for these rifles! Fantastic thanks for sharing.

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Watson577
.300 member


Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: DarylS]
      #268842 - 01/08/15 10:21 AM

Daryl,

Your experience with the Kodiak 58 makes me think of the "squirrel load" that Ross Seyfried developed for this rifle. If I remember right, he used 50 grains of black powder with a spherical ball. I have that article scanned and I'll have to find it again. That might be fun! I bet that a lot of these doubles exhibit the same sort of behavior.

- Jim

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: TH44]
      #268844 - 01/08/15 10:28 AM

Tony,

That's good shooting. I find that I have to really concentrate to avoid flinching. A few friends and I were shooting this rifle last year with 12-dram ball loads at a 25-yard target. I shot two pairs and everyone else shot one pair each and the target had about a 4" ragged hole after we were finished. I don't know what the rifle will actually do but I guess that this is accurate enough for what it was intended for.

- Jim

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #268845 - 01/08/15 11:15 AM

Here's a video that I have been given permission to upload. Mike seems to have enjoyed the ride!

[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_Mike%20Shooting%208-Bore%2012-Drams%20-%20900%20Grain%20Ball.mp4[/IMG]

Here's another good video. You can see the target in this one and the dirt flying up on the bank behind it.

[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_Mike%20Shooting%208-Bore%2012-Drams%20-%20900%20Grain%20Ball-02.mp4[/IMG]

Edited by Watson577 (02/08/15 09:49 AM)

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MikeRowe
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Loc: Arkansas, USA
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #268847 - 01/08/15 11:45 AM

Yes, that is an experience I'll not soon forget!

And I did fire the left barrel after that, and the ball from it was in the group too.

A 577/500 3 1/8" Magnum loaded with a 440 and 6 drams has no recoil whatsoever. All you have to do is shoot it right after shooting Jim's Henry, then it's not noticeable.

Thank you for the opportunity to shoot such a wonderful Scottish rifle!

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Jager
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Loc: New South Wales Australia
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: MikeRowe]
      #268853 - 01/08/15 04:26 PM

Man that is one Beautiful rifle ..

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buckbrush
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Loc: Alberta
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Jager]
      #270916 - 24/09/15 01:11 PM

it looks like the stock has some cast on. Was the original owner a lefty or am I seeing things?

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: buckbrush]
      #270947 - 25/09/15 02:34 AM

Jim,

Just saw your post. I haven't been keeping up with this forum (Paradox and Bore Guns).

The Henry looks great. It is a wonderful rifle from times gone by. I have enjoyed shooting it and look forward to doing so again.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Watson577
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: CptCurl]
      #277991 - 15/02/16 11:54 AM

Hello gents,

I recently tried firing this rifle with 328 grains of Goex Olde Eynsford 1-1/2 powder and a 860 grain 12:1 spherical ball and the results were very good. I know several people that have been having very good results using this powder in double rifles so if you shoot a black powder rifle, you might want to give this powder a try. Here are photos of the targets as well as a few videos of a friend firing the rifle. Before this, he had never shot anything remotely like this before. The amazing thing to me is that John shot as well offhand as I did off of sticks in a seated position! It looks like the rear sight needs to be drifted to the left by about 0.035" to correct the error. Based on John's target, I think that the rifle was likely sighted for 100 yards (the rear sight isn't marked for range).

Cheers,

Jim


1st Target (shot off of sticks in seated position)


2nd Target (John's offhand target)


Composite Target


Video 1 (Note: These were 860 grain balls. I mistakenly said 900 grains in this video)
[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_IMG_0544.mp4[/IMG]

Video 2
[IMG]http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv164/Watson577/8-Bore%20Elephant%20Rifle/th_IMG_0832.mp4[/IMG]

Edited by Watson577 (15/02/16 11:58 AM)

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rigbymauser
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Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #278065 - 17/02/16 06:43 AM

Thanks for sharing Jim. Good to see an old borerifle at works. When posting something like this I always got to get my Manton out of the safe. I just might load it up for next-time-shooting.

BTW: I got a hold of some 435grain jacket Degol bullets for the .500Linebaugh. They are .510cal and cost under ½ of what a jacket Woodleigh 440grain cost. These bullets are for the .577/500 magnum.They look they could be used for the .500/110wcf too. Short ogive and the crimping groove not far from top.

Edited by rigbymauser (17/02/16 06:50 AM)

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Watson577
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: rigbymauser]
      #278168 - 19/02/16 11:17 AM

Hi Jens,

My 577/500 has a broken stock that still needs to be repaired, so I haven't been able to shoot it lately. Last time I shot it, the stock broke through the wrist where an old rather deep crack was (I had no idea how deep it was). That repair will have to wait though because I'm currently making payments on a E.M. Reilly 10-bore double rifle that needs a good home! At any rate, I only shoot paper patched bullets out of my express rifles and the Grant shoots very well with those bullets. The only thing that I want to eventually try is Goex Olde Eynsford 1-1/2 black powder. From the results that some of my friends have had, I expect that it will work very well in the 577/500. Have fun with that Manton!

Regards,

Jim

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sharps4590
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Reged: 09/03/16
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #279912 - 27/03/16 08:51 AM

Stunning rifle!! Incredible. Thank you so much. I have never been able to get my Reilly in 500 BPE to group with black but, given your results, I believe I am on the hunt for some Old Eynsford.

--------------------
Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." John14:6

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Watson577
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Reged: 05/03/09
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: sharps4590]
      #279917 - 27/03/16 11:47 AM

Hi Sharps4590,

Thank you for your message. That Olde Eynsford 1-1/2 powder is good stuff. Just steer clear of the 3F--you can get dangerous pressures with that powder in the high-capacity express cartridges.

Regards,

Jim

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sharps4590
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Re: Alexander Henry 8-Bore Elephant Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #279928 - 27/03/16 10:06 PM

Will do and thank you sir! If your video's were on film I believe I would have worn them out.

Vic

--------------------
Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." John14:6

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