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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Alexander Henry and Captain Curl!
      #229564 - 02/05/13 04:36 AM

Fulfilled a long-time year dream recently and picked up a black powder, hammer double rifle by Alexander Henry. 500BPE with all the trimmings made as a best quality gun in 1871. I have a great interest in late 19th Century Scottish and Indian deer stalking so I've wanted one of these rifles for many a year.

I had our resident double gun guru Captain Curl check out the gun for me and it met his approval. Next I visited him up in the beautiful mountains of western Virginia and we embarked on an endeavor to make her shoot. Much bourbon, rye, hot air, H4198, case filler and lead bullets were expended in the effort. Even VAgrouser came to help out and it was a pleasure to meet him and his Henry rifle.












Unlike most of the other British gunmakers in the 19th and early 20th Centuries who were shotgun makers who occasionally made rifle, Henry (like other Scots makers) was a rifle maker first and foremost and you see this in how well his rifles shoot.

I got her shooting and took her on the hill successfully stalking deer about two week ago. Few thing better than successfully stalking deer with 100 year old binoculars and a 140 year old rifle.







Thank you Curly for all your help!

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



Edited by CptCurl (03/05/13 12:25 PM)

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MikeRowe
.333 member


Reged: 23/11/11
Posts: 478
Loc: Arkansas, USA
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229569 - 02/05/13 05:26 AM

Congratulations, sir!

You have a wonderful old rifle, and better still, are putting it to it's intended use.

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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3547
Loc: Colorado
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229570 - 02/05/13 05:30 AM

WOW!
Well done!
Who needs a "blah, blah, blah, super duper, short, blah, blah, magnum this or that" when a good 'ol BPE rifle will do just fine.

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

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1972
Loc: Denmark
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #229573 - 02/05/13 05:40 AM


Thanks for sharing. It is always enjoying to read and see hunters still use yesteryears "Weatherbys".

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AkMike
.416 member


Reged: 19/11/05
Posts: 2576
Loc: Anchorage, Alaska
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #229574 - 02/05/13 05:41 AM

That's a lovely lassie!
Treat her as well as the prior caretakers have.

--------------------
"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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StephenCoker
.300 member


Reged: 01/12/11
Posts: 140
Loc: AR, United States of America
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: AkMike]
      #229575 - 02/05/13 05:52 AM

Very nice indeed. Always a pleasure to see a Henry used as intended: to stalk game, to actually stretch one's legs and truly hunt. I also compliment you on choosing to use a vintage binocular. I've amassed a small collection of vintage stalking telescopes. I have found that it's things like that, that make it even more of an enjoyable experience to hunt with vintage rifles.

--------------------
www.stephencokerandco.com
Uniquely superlative rifles in the Scottish tradition.

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tinker
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Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: AkMike]
      #229576 - 02/05/13 05:53 AM

Nice!

Great shooting (and looking) rifle.
Nice deer too!
Congrats on all points, and good on you and the fellows for getting together over the effort.




Cheers
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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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: tinker]
      #229577 - 02/05/13 06:02 AM

Thank you gents!

Stephen: seems you and I have much in common, I have a couple of old brass telescopes I also use for stalking

I'll try the old girl back in Scotland this fall on stags accompanied by an old brass telescope and some tweed

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



Edited by Chasseur (02/05/13 06:03 AM)

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OahuKaneohe
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Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 98
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Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229579 - 02/05/13 06:08 AM

Very nice double and good shooting on Lanai.

What form of fillers did you use in the handloads?

I'll not be at the range today, gout is acting up.

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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: OahuKaneohe]
      #229580 - 02/05/13 06:13 AM

Thanks, I've been using 1/2" backer rod. I'm swamped with work so I won't be be shooting until next...

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229582 - 02/05/13 06:24 AM

Well done, Chasseur, Bravo!

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


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

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StephenCoker
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Reged: 01/12/11
Posts: 140
Loc: AR, United States of America
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: DarylS]
      #229607 - 02/05/13 01:20 PM

Yes, I imagine there are only a few of us IR / Comparative experts who could discuss the topic of Scottish gunmakers as equally well as Rational Actor, Dependency Theory, Constructivism, or the geopolitical climate of the Arab Spring!

--------------------
www.stephencokerandco.com
Uniquely superlative rifles in the Scottish tradition.

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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3547
Loc: Colorado
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: StephenCoker]
      #229609 - 02/05/13 02:43 PM

Chasseur, I have a twin to your rifle so I was understandably impressed with how yours shoots.
I noticed that you are using a Ranier 335gr bullet.
I looked at their site and it seems that they are .500" diameter. Is your bore .500" and do you and Curl think that the bullet is bumping up to fill the grooves?
I thought smokeless loads didn't work in trying to bump up soft bullets but whatever you are doing seems to be working quite well!

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

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Mike_Bailey
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Reged: 26/02/07
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Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #229618 - 02/05/13 06:26 PM

Great story and lovely rifle, best, Mike

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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #229641 - 03/05/13 04:54 AM

Quote:

Chasseur, I have a twin to your rifle so I was understandably impressed with how yours shoots.
I noticed that you are using a Ranier 335gr bullet.
I looked at their site and it seems that they are .500" diameter. Is your bore .500" and do you and Curl think that the bullet is bumping up to fill the grooves?
I thought smokeless loads didn't work in trying to bump up soft bullets but whatever you are doing seems to be working quite well!



Thank you for the kind words!

Have you posted photos of your rifle? I'd be very curious to see it.

I am paperpatching the bullets up to the right diameter. I find it much easier to buy cheap lead pistol bullet of the right weight and paper patch it up to the right diameter rather than casting and swaging my own lead bullets.

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
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Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229658 - 03/05/13 11:33 AM

Quote:

Have you posted photos of your rifle? I'd be very curious to see it.



Here you go:







I thought it was unusual to not have a typical Alex Henry cheek piece but it is just as your rifle is.


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

Edited by CptCurl (03/05/13 12:28 PM)

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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5280
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #229659 - 03/05/13 12:33 PM

Yeah that's a fine rifle and we sure had a good time working it into a 21st century NfB load.

Chasseur had lessons on loading techniques and learned paper patching from the ground up. Each evening after a successful day of loading and shooting we sat in soft chairs with toddies while telling stories and fondling guns. His Henry .500 was ever so polite and courteous. It gave no trouble at all.

Huvius, your Henry looks like it should have the same manners too.

It was great to have Chasseur here in Virginia after his six year absence! Thanks for the visit.

That rifle should give you a lifetime of pleasure.

Curl

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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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CptCurlAdministrator
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Reged: 01/05/04
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Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: CptCurl]
      #229661 - 03/05/13 12:49 PM

Here is Chasseur enjoying a slightly more modern weapon of .45 caliber:

Chasseur and the Tommy Gun



Curl

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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: StephenCoker]
      #229666 - 03/05/13 07:03 PM

Quote:

Yes, I imagine there are only a few of us IR / Comparative experts who could discuss the topic of Scottish gunmakers as equally well as Rational Actor, Dependency Theory, Constructivism, or the geopolitical climate of the Arab Spring!



Yes Stephen that is true we are rare birds!

Curly: it was a great time and I thank you for all your help with the rifle.

Also thank you for letting me fulfill a boyhood dream of shooting a chopper. When we first moved to Alaska when I was a wee lad I really tried to convince my dad that I "needed" a Tommy gun for bear protection for the whole family but someone my old man never bought that...

I guess I had some blend of these two in mind, but replace the bad guys with grizzly bears...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M9INFJ-PTw

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3m5l8_you-can-t-hit-albert-finney_shortfilms#.UYN-mbVOR5E

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



Edited by Chasseur (03/05/13 07:09 PM)

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5280
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #229671 - 03/05/13 09:13 PM

Chasseur,

Albert Finney had one advantage over you: his magazine didn't run dry. He sure got a lot of action out of that 50 round drum.

I do notice in the last scene as he puts the stub of his cigar back into his mouth the bolt and actuator of his Tommy Gun are forward. He's empty, but the task is done.

I thought for sure he would re-light the cigar on the smoking barrel of the Tommy.

Curl

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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: CptCurl]
      #231404 - 21/06/13 05:38 AM

Spending some more range time with Mr. Henry trying out loads at 100 yards and also some full black powder loads as well.

By best group so far at 100 yards, 4.5" six shot group.



--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #232915 - 25/07/13 07:02 PM


More range work with the Alexander Henry, 2 1/4" four shot group at 100 yards!



--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3547
Loc: Colorado
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #232922 - 25/07/13 11:08 PM

Did you have any success with the black powder loads?
What was your wadding for those?

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

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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Huvius]
      #232932 - 26/07/13 02:27 AM

The BP loads were ok at 50, I only did a couple of tests. I'd have to work on it more when I have the time. I was using wax sheets and lubed fiber wads for wadding.

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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Chasseur
.375 member


Reged: 18/11/03
Posts: 771
Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Alexander Henry and Captain Curl! [Re: Chasseur]
      #252628 - 25/08/14 05:03 PM


On her third journey on the open hill for our chital/axis deer the Alexander Henry 500BPE express rifle finally takes a large axis stag. On her first journey way back in April last year she took an axis doe at 180 or so yards, and now on her third trip to the beautiful island of Lanai I managed to take an old fat stag at about the same distance. Spooked a small herd of 10-12 deer on a ridge. I didn't have a great deal of time so I had to make a quick shot off my monopod/shooting stick. I waited and one of the larger males in the group stopped for a moment too take a look back at us and I was able to make the shot.



He was a good old stag with one malformed antler. Fun to stalk deer with a 140 year old open sighted double


--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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