Longknife
.333 member
Reged: 17/04/08
Posts: 269
Loc: Illinois
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Here are some pictures of my Robert Hughes SXS 500 EX (3 inch) rifle. It has Henry rifling, the barrels are 26 inches long and it weighs a trim 9 lb. and 4 oz. I was amazed at how slim and trim and balanced it feels in my hands. Those English makers sure knew their stuff! Here is what I have found out about Hughes, and if this info is correct, that makes this gun a very LATE period BPE rifle made after 1897. If anyone has any other info on Hughes or pictures of his rifles (or other products) I would appreciate it if you could share it with me, just PM me with the info. THANK YOU, ED
UNIVERSAL FIRE ARMS WORKS / ROBERT HUGHES / BIRM. Robert Hughes was a successful Birmingham gun & rifle maker who operated at 22 Moland Street from 1855-1870 and who moved to 100 Moland Street in 1870, operating there as Ammunition, Barrel, Furniture & Implement maker until 1905, with the company becoming Robert Hughes & Sons in 1897.
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Edited by Longknife (22/05/17 02:19 AM)
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Maxim
.224 member
Reged: 04/06/16
Posts: 42
Loc: Michigan USA
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Bluing and casehardening are still pristine. Steel flat buttplate must get your attention. Closed knot at the toe of the stock, perhaps it showed up while the stock was being carved and they felt just leave it.
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3599
Loc: Colorado
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Hughes had quite an offering in their day.
I have a Farquharson from Robert Hughes & Son and was just looking at a Martini 303 from Hughes yesterday.
I have seen that .500 double before. Probably 20yrs ago at the Colorado collectors show. Could be one very similar. We called it he "Werewolves of London" gun because the lioness on the left lock.
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4326
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Lovely piece Longknife!
What is the load you feed this sweet old lady to make her 'sing'?
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3674
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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Very nice example, Longknife, you will no doubt enjoy your custody very much!
The British BP .500s are perhaps the epitome of slender elegance vs hitting power: many are described as 'serpentine' whereas a step up to the .577s usually takes us well beyond that paradigm!
Please don't flame me for this observation, but if it is to be taken afield those rear sight-Vs should probably be widened, ...a lot!
Almost looks like they were never filed-in.
Hard decision to take a file to a rifle that has remained virtually untouched for more than a century though.....
(unless the rear sight is a replacement, although it does look original)
If its to be a collector or range-rifle just forget I said anything! 
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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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Longknife
.333 member
Reged: 17/04/08
Posts: 269
Loc: Illinois
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Maxim, That finish IS remarkable, I guess that knot is not going to cause any problems, been there for 100 years,,,,
Huvius, YOU just named my rifle!!!,,,, "WEREWOLF OF LONDON" She DOES look like a Werewolf! Might it have been built for a special purpose??? That explains its good condition doesn't it!!! Maybe I should cast up some silver bullets!
93x64mm,, There is a lengthy discussion about loads for this beauty here. I have not shot it YET!
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=296065&an=0&page=0#Post296065
Marrakai, The V's seem to be wide enough to me but probably need to be wider to be real "express" sights. One problem (for my ageing eyes) is that the sight is Sooooo close to the breech, about 3 3/4 inches. I can see it better with my reading glasses on! I'll see how it shoots before making any "adjustments". I do plan to take it Boar hunting in one of the southern States...ED
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Longknife
Edited by Longknife (22/05/17 11:06 PM)
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