CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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At long last this is my Alexander Henry .577 2 3/4" BPE double rifle:
 
 
 
 
 
Curl
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 09:40 PM)
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Nakihunter
.375 member
Reged: 13/10/07
Posts: 588
Loc: New Zealand
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What an exquisite piece! I could just keep looking over the scroll engraving. It does not look like it has been used much. Thanks for sharing Rosco!
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Always shoot through the target & not just at it.
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JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
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What a beauty! You're a lucky man! Congratulations!
Great photos too
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3615
Loc: Colorado
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This is a great example of just about my all-time favorite double rifle!
If you ever decide to move it on, please let me know!!
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3716
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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Bloody ripper, Curl! Marvellous! To find one in that condition, with all the toys still in the toybox, is a real treat! Congrats.
Test targets soon....? 
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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Curl-
I'm jealous.
I was on the phone with friends in Roanoke tonight talking about whitetail hunting.
I might be dropping you a note some time later on.
Get that thing running soon!
--Tinker
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--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--
"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...
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dale
.333 member
Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 341
Loc: logan W.V.
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Curl,
Thanks for the photos, just outstanding! and my wife wonders why I live on this computer?
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gatsby
.375 member
Reged: 05/09/05
Posts: 862
Loc: inland valley CA USA
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Curl,
A spectacular A.Henry! I am always amazed at all the minor details and engraving flourishes on these old guns. What is the year of manufacture 187-?
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"Recoil is insignificant when there is a tiger on the head of your elephant" The Maharaja of Cooch Behar
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450_366
.400 member
Reged: 17/01/07
Posts: 1068
Loc: Sweden, west-coast.
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I envy you, a very nice gun with the case to go with it.
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Andreas
"Yeas it kicks like a mule he said, but always remember that its much worse standing on the other end"
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peter
removed
Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark
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outstanding curl
if the numbers are following a line it is made after my gun, so that puts it in the 1883-onwards year.
i agree with marrakai finding one with all the bells and whistles in the case is a godsend.
i hope your shoulder mends up quickly, so you can take your price shooting.
how much does it weigh ?
best regards
peter
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4seventy
Sponsor
Reged: 07/05/03
Posts: 2210
Loc: Queensland Australia
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Well Curl you've done it again, what a beauty!
What a find!
I'd like to compliment you also on that fine set of photos.
You have shot and presented those photographs very nicely indeed!
A rifle like that deserves a good home and I'm sure it now has one, and is in good hands.
Well done mate. 
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MacNaughton360
.275 member
Reged: 10/12/07
Posts: 99
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Beautiful set!
What are the toys in the toybox?
I don't recognize everything.
MacNaughton360 
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dnovo
.333 member
Reged: 21/02/05
Posts: 490
Loc: Chicago & SE Wisconsin
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Capt, you did it again. Remember, when this one needs a home like the other, you know where to call. I promise to tuck it in each night and give it love and affection. Dave
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Time Wounds All Heels
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Isn't that a little cutie pie, very niiiice!
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mehulkamdar
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
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Gosh, Cpt Curl, you are a man of impeccable taste and luck! That is an absolutely beautiful rifle!
Simply fantastic and thanks for sharing.
Very good hunting to you!
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The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.
Mehul Kamdar
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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Jones screw-action, backaction hammer..way to go here.
Hey Cpt!
Please read jack Lotts articals from Gun Digest 1979 and 1985. Its a most.
Thanks for sharing 
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3716
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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Curl:
Regarding year of manufacture, my Alex Henry 20/.577 ULH DR (SN #5514) was finished on the 6th of November 1882. The only other AH .577 I have seen (also a 20/.577!) is SN #5860 which was finished in September 1885. It would seem likely that yours is very late 1880s or even into the '90s if the SNs were sequential. Do let us know if you send off for the journal extract.
BTW, both those rifles are very similar to yours, especially #5860 which left Australia in March 2001 and is now owned by Frank Findlow in the US. #5514 is a slightly higher grade, judging by the fully scroll-engraved sight-leaves and a few other minor details, but is rather down in condition compared with the other two (especially yours!).
Re-read the article on #5860 by Frank Findlow in the Summer 2005 Double Gun Journal while your shoulder readies itself for action!
"A Scottish Enigma: Alexander Henry's 20/.577 Express"
Apart from the slightly different chambering, it's your gun, mate!
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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Nakihunter
.375 member
Reged: 13/10/07
Posts: 588
Loc: New Zealand
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I would like to know how this piece of art really shoots. Would you use regular BP or Pyrodex? How do you clean the bores? I am almost tempted to buy a nice BP DR if I cannot own an English NE DR.
Thanks for the info.
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Always shoot through the target & not just at it.
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Marrakai,
I just re-read the Findlow article you mentioned. Thanks for reminding me of that article.
The Henry rifles are fascinating. It would be a real treat if you would photograph yours and put it on display here at NE.com.
Best,
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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First two cartridges.
Try-out load:
65.0 grains IMR4198
Three .375" 24 gauge felt wads
570 grain paper patched lead bullet cast from original mould
WLR primer
Bertram .577 3" brass trimmed to 2.75"
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 09:42 PM)
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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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Looks great Curl!
Hopefully you'll have a target similar to the one in my sig line to show us once you're ready to shoot the new rifle!
--Tinker
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--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--
"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...
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Nakihunter
.375 member
Reged: 13/10/07
Posts: 588
Loc: New Zealand
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Quote:
First two cartridges.
Try-out load:
65.0 grains IMR4198
Three .375" 24 gauge felt wads
570 grain paper patched lead bullet cast from original mould
WLR primer
Bertram .577 3" brass trimmed to 2.75"
Curl
CaptCurl, is this a Nitro for black load? I would be really keen to see what you achieve. I might have to settle for a Black Powder DR, in which case a 500 sounds great.
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Always shoot through the target & not just at it.
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 09:43 PM)
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Range Report - April 26, 2008:
Loading these first cartridges for my rifle really got my emotions rolling. When I loaded them I didn't intend to shoot them right away, and thought I would let my poor shoulder heal a couple more weeks. But holding those rounds in my hand was magnetism I couldn't resist. I got my courage up, and off to the range I went.
Ross Seyfried stated the formula for substituting IMR4198 for black powder. His rule is 40% to 46% of the weight of the original black powder charge. The chart of Eley ballistics reproduced in the back of Graeme Wright's book shows the .577 2 3/4" round loaded with 160 grains of black powder behind a 520 grain bullet yielded 1725 fps at 10 tons pressure. My bullet is a tad heavier.
40% of 160 would be 64 grains of IMR4198. 46% would be 73.6 grains. Those should be the approximate limits of loads using IMR4198, although I'm mindful of my heavier bullet. Thus I decided on my try-out load of 65 grains.
I anticipated this load would be on the light side. My prediction to myself was that the barrel groups would be spread apart 4 to 5 inches, and as it turned out my prediction was just about spot on.
I fired four rounds - two rights and two lefts at 50 yards. The result was two nice groups spread 4 inches apart and punching the target just to the right and just to the left of the base of the bullseye. Obviously the rifle is asking for a bit more horsepower. Not bad results for the first try!
The shoulder? That's another matter. A trying experience by any measure. Let's put it this way: There was no damage done, but I'm not running out to the range this afternoon to try 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70 grain loads as I would under normal circumstances. Maybe next week. 
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Nakihunter,
Yes, this is nitro-for-black loading. I am substituting IMR4198 with appropriate wads, for the original black powder charge. The object is to duplicate the exterior ballistics of the original load, thus achieving proper regulation, with the use of smokeless (nitro) powder.
Done properly, it is documented that the nitro-for-black loading results in substantially less internal pressure. Graeme Wright does not report pressure tests for the .577 2 3/4" BPE. However, his pressure tests on the .577 3" BPE demonstrated that he could duplicate the ballistics of the original nitro-for-black factory load (pressure of 10 tons) at only 7.8 tons pressure using Varget and 8.9 tons using H4198.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
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Oh how frustrating! I hope that shoulder gets back to normal soon. Positive thinking! At least you have a great project to help with that...
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