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TH44
.375 member

Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK

Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle
#208324 - 13/05/12 08:41 AM

Having been asked to post this on another forum I thought you may be interested in this

Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle, left hand lock, calibre .450 N0. 2 musket

The octagonal barrel is unusual, according to Wal Winfer, was only used (usually) in cheaper rook rifles

It is muzzle heavy (compared to my George Gibbs) but has basic express sights so is clearly a sporting rifle not a target arm

Left hand lock

Basic express sights

Engraving second quality but more than good enough for me!

Safety lock on operating lever a nice touch

Bore is good, shoots very well

Original owner's initials??

Barrel and action Patent numbers with serial numbers tally and put it at April 1878 according to Wal Winfer and Jonothan Kirton

Comments please, especially re: the octagonal barrell, or just enjoy

TH 44

Edited by CptCurl (14/05/12 08:37 PM)

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26510
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#208327 - 13/05/12 09:26 AM

Ohh- that is nice! Second quality? - not to me. I have a .450 #2 Musket round - copper tubed, I think maybe something like 340gr. around 1,740fps?

I duplicated those ballistics in a .45 Colt Lever gun with W680 powder. I shot 2 elk with that rifle with a less powerful load using a 300gr. at only 1.584fps- .45/90 Win.BP ballistics.

I'd much rather hunt with that single shot - any day.

Nice bore still.

Congratulations on owning a very fine rifle.

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

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

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AFRO408
.333 member

Reged: 21/01/09
Posts: 312
Loc: Arding NSW

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#208330 - 13/05/12 11:31 AM

Lovely rifle

Now, isn't that Henry rifling a joy to behold.

--------------------
Flinch ? Wot flinch ? Gunsmithing is my PASSION.

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Rule303
.416 member

Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 4913
Loc: Woodford Qld

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#208339 - 13/05/12 04:35 PM

The rifle looks in good nick for it's age. The rifling looks superb.

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kamilaroi
.400 member

Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: Rule303]
#208340 - 13/05/12 04:44 PM

Not many left hand locks for PG rifles IIRC! The double up on safeties I have never seen. (maybe a reminder that the rifle was ready to go?), but Wal would know.

Might I suggest a first quality to customer specs and colonial use (for the chambering)N

Nice bit of kit!

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Matabele
.300 member

Reged: 16/09/10
Posts: 230
Loc: Zimbabwe

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: kamilaroi]
#208348 - 13/05/12 10:00 PM

Beautiful rifle!

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Grenadier
.375 member

Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: Matabele]
#208349 - 13/05/12 10:32 PM

Matabele, here is a good example of what you were asking about in another post. Even though the colors have faded the gun and engraving retain all the original beauty.

Wonderful piece.

Isn't the left hand lock unusual?

--------------------
~

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AkMike
.416 member

Reged: 19/11/05
Posts: 2576
Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: Grenadier]
#208388 - 15/05/12 02:10 AM

Octagon barrels are seldom seen on British Rifles, at least what I've seen. My Henry is round with a knox form. I do like the file cut flat on this one. Mine is not nearly as nice because it has no engraving. It has a RH lock.

--------------------
"When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal not in goods, but in favors; you may know that your society is doomed." Ayn Rand

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Matabele
.300 member

Reged: 16/09/10
Posts: 230
Loc: Zimbabwe

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: AkMike]
#208425 - 16/05/12 02:24 AM

Grenadier I see what you mean...lovely old gun and full of character!

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TH44
.375 member

Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: Matabele]
#212431 - 10/07/12 08:57 AM

After 8 weeks I remembered to telephone John Dickson & Sons who hold the records for Alexander Henry
They were very helpful, and 10 minutes later had the copy of the original ledger entry

The result was much better than I had expected

No. 4048 - express rifle, best quality! 28" octagonal barrel, left hand bolted lock, bolt on guard, sold 7 January 1877
to the Duke of Marlborough!

This was John Winston Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, the paternal grandfather of Winston Churchill!

This explains the extras and less usual octagonal barrel and very unusual lock on the operating lever

Daryl - I looked up the .500/450 No. 2 musket, the top load is a 540 grain bullet ahead of 90 grains of black, it should be good for your mooses? In another world I would love you to take it and use it for that

I am most pleased and happy to share with fellow enthusiasts

TH44

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26510
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#212433 - 10/07/12 10:08 AM

TH44 - that would be a splendid load for moose - or bison.

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

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

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chuckT
.275 member

Reged: 11/07/11
Posts: 71
Loc: texas usa

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#212436 - 10/07/12 11:42 AM

Beautiful rifle ! I wonder how rare the left hand lock is ?

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Viking338
.333 member

Reged: 11/08/11
Posts: 480
Loc: Queensland Australia

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#212442 - 10/07/12 04:21 PM

Yes it is beautiful, and how wonderful to find out that it has such history. Thank you so much for sharing.

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39245
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: Viking338]
#212513 - 11/07/12 02:18 PM

How does the hammer work? No nipple?

--------------------
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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controlled_feed
.300 member

Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 227
Loc: NSW, Australia

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: NitroX]
#212526 - 11/07/12 07:44 PM

I think there is a block within the breechblock that the hammer strikes when it falls. TH44 could tell you for sure. If it is that system, the ones I have seen are extremly well manufactured, at first glance you couldn't see that the breech block has two parts.

--------------------
I was born 100 years too late

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26510
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: controlled_feed]
#212541 - 12/07/12 12:29 AM

Looks to me the hammer's nose strikes the pin that is inside the hole in the top of the breech block. The hammer does not appear to have an internal striker arrangement as I've seen on other actions with phoney hammers, or there wouldn't be a hole for the hammer's nose (looks to me that way).

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

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

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39245
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: DarylS]
#212545 - 12/07/12 01:26 AM

Quote:

Looks to me the hammer's nose strikes the pin that is inside the hole in the top of the breech block.

Yes I see the hammer head is actually canted or bent over enough and a hole in the breech block. Not visible until I enlarged the photo.

--------------------
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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TH44
.375 member

Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 731
Loc: West UK

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: NitroX]
#212567 - 12/07/12 08:34 PM

Daryl and NitroX have it - the firing pin is recessed

Controlled feed - yours is as my Field's Patent (posted here)where the spring loaded firing pin is flush with the block - note the slot underneath to allow the hammer to fall far enough

Also, for your interst, note there is what appears to be a 'dig' in the top of the breechblock of the A-H. This is actually a machined semi-circle
This ties in with the lip on the bottom of the hammer

I only recently found out its purpose
If you lower the hammer to rest on the sidewall when the breech is open, insert a cartridge and close the breech sharply, without this notch and lip the hammer could flip down and hit the firing pin with enough force to fire it!

When the lip engages the notch it will prevent the breechblock rising

Alexander Henry was a very clever guy!

TH44

Edited by CptCurl (14/07/12 10:44 PM)

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26510
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle [Re: TH44]
#212590 - 13/07/12 07:14 AM

Yes - I see that - most interesting and inovative move on A.H's part. That would certainly train you to pull to 1/2 cock before trying to lift the block as it would stop just under closing and have to be lowered a bit to release the hammer's lip.

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

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

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