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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 627
Loc: Boulder Colorado
reasearching a Rodda?
      #104445 - 07/05/08 12:00 PM

Gentlemen,
I'm posting this for another chap, but I'm actually in the same exact boat. We both own Henry rifles that were retailed through Rodda. Do the records still exist? Who is presently in possesion of the name. Many thanks,
Steve

--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com

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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: bouldersmith]
      #104572 - 09/05/08 02:12 AM

Bouldersmith,

The Rodda company still exists in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) India as does another venerable old brand, Manton. It is my understanding that they still have retail records of guns sold by them but you would have to contact them directly to find out. It can be a bitch dealing with them because of how slow they are to respond to the most basic communication.

Rodda's descendants run a British database at www.internetgunclub.com but as far as I am aware they do not have the Rodda records available with them.

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar

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sakmyk
.224 member


Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: bouldersmith]
      #104582 - 09/05/08 04:39 AM

Hi Bouldersmith,

I've examined one particular Rodda bore rifle for some time now. You can find the story here.

In spite of huge amount of work, I have not been able to track the actual maker of the rifle. Alex Henry is one of my more recent quesses, though. Therefore, I'm very interested in how you could tell that your rifle is a Henry.

A while back I learned that A. Henry ledgers are possessed by Dickson & McNaughton in Edinburgh. I e-mailed them twice a couple of months back, but never received any response.

I've met and discussed with the person, to whom Mehul is referring to as a descendant of the owners of R.B. Rodda & Co. When we last spoke about this with this person, he was once again planning to contact Rodda representatives in Kolkata. As Mehul said, those guys in India have not been too cooperative so far. So, as far as I know, the Rodda records are still around, but currently out of reach.

Regards,
Saku

Edited by sakmyk (09/05/08 08:27 AM)

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peter
removed


Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: sakmyk]
      #104583 - 09/05/08 05:17 AM

sakmyk

regarding Dickson & McNaughton in Edinburgh, just call them over the phone they are very helpfull and eager to help, if the gun number match the A.H. number then you should get all the info you need.

best regards

peter

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8borerifle
.275 member


Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: peter]
      #104598 - 09/05/08 07:45 AM

I am the owner of the rifle made for R. B. Rodda. It is a best grade Alexander Henry bar action underlever .500x 3 1/4" BPE. A phone cal to Dickson and McNaughten was helpful. I was told that the rifle was built for R.B. Rodda in 1887. I have delt with people in India before. I have NEVER had a reply to any E-mail that I have sent them.

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sakmyk
.224 member


Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: peter]
      #104601 - 09/05/08 08:36 AM

Thanks Peter & 8borerifle for your engouraging response,

I'll definitely make that call. Somehow I always hesitate to use phone for this kind of issues, because I'm not a native speaker. To my mind a phonecall is much more unforgiving than a face-to-face conversation, where you can use body language etc.

However, I guess I'll survive

I'll keep you posted on this 16-bore.

Regards,
Saku

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sakmyk
.224 member


Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: 8borerifle]
      #105253 - 16/05/08 06:36 AM

I feel a bit quilty of hijacking this thread.

Does a designation ".451 caliber" in a 1875 made rifle make a good sense to any of you?

Today I called to Dickson & McNaughton as I promised above, and when browsing throuh the Henry ledgers they actually found an entry on the same number (#1093) that I have on this Rodda. Also the year of manufacture seemed to be dead on. They said that A. Henry had made a rifle with that number on 1875. I have dated this Rodda to be made somewhere between 1875-1879.

According to what I understood via phone, these two rifles aren't the same, however. Records mentioned a ".451 caliber" rifle on that number, whereas mine is 16-bore.

As I assumed in my earlier post, I had very much difficulties in understanding the spoken language through phone. Furthermore, to my inexperienced ear this gentleman's dialect wasn't the easiest. Many of the details I missed altogether, and they also said that the Henry records are in some cases hard to interpret.

I must say that I remained a little bit confused after the call. There was a correct number on "correct" year. Of course that can happen just by chance, but still...

I'm chewing over this seemingly odd characterisation of a ".451 caliber". This guy may have said 'bore' instead of 'caliber', I can't recall, but does that make any more sense?

What do you think?

Regards,
Saku

Edited by sakmyk (16/05/08 01:51 PM)

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8borerifle
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Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: sakmyk]
      #105618 - 19/05/08 11:52 PM

I don't understand that very early serial number you have. I have a best grade .500 3" falling block Alex Henry rifle that has a 24** serial number and was made (or finished) in 1872. I also had a .577 3" double rifle and a 20 bore double rifle with serial numbers consecutive by Alex Henry in the 36** range and they were engraved on the barrels "November 1874" and the name of the Maharaja of Patialla. I would guess your rifle is much earlier than 1875 based on those serial numbers. Could it have been a Patent number instead? Patent numbers were the consecutive number of actions based on a certain patent number. My falling block has a patent number engraved on the top of the action. Hope this helps.

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sakmyk
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Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: 8borerifle]
      #105637 - 20/05/08 05:54 AM

Thanks for the reply 8borerifle,

There seems to be two separate issues (I try to explain them without confusing any of you readers more than I have done so far):

1) According to my phonecall to Dickson&McNaughton this 16-bore #1093 Rodda was not made by A. Henry, since the #1093 entry in Henry records lists a .451 rifle. But let's leave this thing aside for a while.

2) Regarding what you mentioned, a more interesting issue is that the person at Dickson&McNaughton said that according to Henry records the serial number #1093 was used on a rifle that was made in 1875. This piece of information does not fit into your findings at all.

I don't know the explanation, but I guess I'd rather believe your combinations of serial# and year, than this #1093 & 1875.

I guess I'll have to call them again, and I hope it will be less difficult this time...


(BTW, the #1093 on this rifle cannot be the use number, since it is engraved/stamped on the trigger guard, buttplate, watertable, barrels, forearm... And furthermore, there actually is a separate use number "933" of Purdey 2nd patent thumbhole lever on the watertable - see here.)

Regards,
Saku

Edited by sakmyk (20/05/08 06:28 AM)

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8borerifle
.275 member


Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Ohio,USA
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: sakmyk]
      #105640 - 20/05/08 06:51 AM

My brother and I have both been posting on this question. I used to own a Charles Lancaster 16 Bore double rifle on the same Purdey's patent thumbhole action. It was made in 1875 and was cased with all accessories. It had in gold on the rib " Made for the Maharaja of Bulrampore, Odah 1875" and looked very similar to your rifle, only with oval bore rifling. A very similar 16 Bore double rifle that was fitted with ivory accessories and gold washed sold recently. It was a Rodda and was a Purdey thumbhole also. I believe Puglisi Imporium had it for sale.
That is a really nice rifle you have.
My brother and I mostly have Alex Henry double rifles and none of the ones we have owned have had a serial number less than 2400. All were made later than 1872 per the Alex Henry records. I can e-mail you pictures of the Bulrampure rifle if you want. Take care and good luck.

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Marrakai
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Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3599
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: 8borerifle]
      #105667 - 20/05/08 02:32 PM

OK, I've just re-read this thread, and will need to be reminded of the circumstances that define this rifle as made by Alex Henry.

It doesn't have Henry rifling, strange but not impossible, and doesn't have the characteristic cheek-piece of Henry double rifles of the period. Last but not least, the serial number appears not to fit a Henry.

Have I missed something?

I'm tending to agree with Point 1 in Saku's post above.

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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sakmyk
.224 member


Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: Marrakai]
      #107598 - 17/06/08 03:38 PM

I had the abovementioned 16-bore Rodda in my hands again last Sunday, and I had a chance to peek inside.

There were a couple of stamps previously unknown to me; an asterisk on the rear surface of the action, and initials (?) "F.S" inside both lock plates. I examined the action, locks and the furniture, and that was all I could find (I have previously checked the buttplate and the grip cap, and there's nothing).

Does those minuscule stamps ring any bells to any of you regarding the possible maker of the rifle?






Regards,
saku

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450_366
.400 member


Reged: 17/01/07
Posts: 1068
Loc: Sweden, west-coast.
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: sakmyk]
      #107627 - 18/06/08 06:40 AM

Looks like a nice rifle, but could you please post some pics of the outside also. I never get tired looking at old doubles.

--------------------
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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sakmyk
.224 member


Reged: 10/10/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Western Finland
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: 450_366]
      #107628 - 18/06/08 06:52 AM

Hi Andreas,

In my posts above there are a couple of links to earlier talks on this particular rifle.

And the photos can also be found from here.

Regards/MVH,
saku

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Nakihunter
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Reged: 13/10/07
Posts: 588
Loc: New Zealand
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: sakmyk]
      #107634 - 18/06/08 10:10 AM

Very nice rifle! Congratulations.

--------------------
Always shoot through the target & not just at it.

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tinker
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Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: reasearching a Rodda? [Re: Nakihunter]
      #107654 - 18/06/08 05:38 PM

Saku-

I'm sorry that I can't offer any clarification on the marks you've shown us here.

I will however promise to join you on a hunt with that rifle some day if we can get together and meet for an adventure.

Convince the current owner of that nice old bore rifle to sponsor a hunt for us!
I'll bring my Mahillon 16b double rifle, we can stalk bucks and take nice trophies with our old black powder doubles!


--Tinker

--------------------
--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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