Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle in Sporting Rifles and Other Old Guns Forum

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Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle

Author	Comment
TH	Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle	Lead	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 May 12 12 2:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I have had this Alexander Henry for some time & when Douglas jogged my memory Thursday thought I would post some pics Calibre is .450 N0. 2 Musket The octagonal barrell is unusual, according to Wal Winfer they were only (usually) used in the cheaper rook rifles It is quite muzzle heavy ( compared to my George Gibbs) but has only basic express sights so is clearly a sporting rifle as against a target gun Left hand lock] Standard express sights Engraving not best but more than good enough for me safety catch on lever a nice touch Bore is good No idea of the original owner - his initials? Barrel and action patent numbers with serial number all tally and put the date as April 1878 according to Wal Winfer and Jonathan Kirton Comments please, especially re: the octagonal barrell TH Last Edited By: TH May 13 12 3:05 AM. Edited 4 times.
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TA6319		#1	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 348 May 12 12 2:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	very nice, lovely condition
joelblack88		#2	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2530 May 12 12 3:22 PM Sergeant Major Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The safety catch on the lever is as rare as the octagonal barrel. That's a wonderful Henry. Is it pictured and described in Wal's Henry book or Kirton's falling block book? Last Edited By: joelblack88 May 12 12 9:41 PM. Edited 1 times.
TH		#3	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 May 13 12 3:04 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Joel It is not pictured or described in either book. Wal's book has several rook rifles with octagonal barrels but nothing larger, hence my question If he wanted some details/numbers/pics for reference I would be only too happy to send you/him full resolution pics (IIRC I sent you pics of my hammer martini) or you could use these Many thanks for your interest and comments TH
joelblack88		#4	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2530 May 13 12 5:45 AM Sergeant Major Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Please email them to me along with how you want it credited. One of the great pleasures of the British single shot series of books is that Tom and Wal use each successive book, regardless of subject to add to or correct previous books in the series. I think Tom still has time to get it in Vol 8 which covers hammerless rook rifles. joel_black@netzero.com
TH		#5	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 May 13 12 12:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Joel - just sent pics please confirm if you get them Tony
joelblack88		#6	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2530 May 13 12 2:06 PM Sergeant Major Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tony, You forgot the most important pictures which were the close up of the safety on the lever and Henry's name on the octagonal barrel. Joel Last Edited By: joelblack88 May 15 12 5:14 AM. Edited 1 times.
Squatter	No idea of the original owner - his initials?	#7	[-]
O/R Posts: 7 May 13 12 5:54 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi TH, Beautiful rifle, Alex Henry's percussion sporting rifles generally had damascus octagonal barrels and I would guess yours was built for someone wanting to replace his muzzle loader by following that tradition, but the calibre is an odd choice. I have a full length canvas covered rifle case that came with an Alex Henry, but not matched to it. The name on the case is V.A.Malcolmson. His name was Vernon Austen Malcolmson from Aston Bury, Stevenage, Hertsfordshire, England. he belonged to a very wealthy family. I have done a certain amount of research, a little more might find out if he had a monogram like on the escutcheon. It looks like there was once something over the initials, now gone. If so, send me your rifle and I will see if it fits. I am sure you dont want much for it! S
TH		#8	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 May 14 12 2:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Squatter Thanks for the information, the monogram certainly is possibly VAM, it would be interesting to know if it is the name of the original owner I would infinitely prefer you to send/sell me the case!! This rifle would probably be one of the last two I would sell! I have been told the calibre was probably for South Africa?? Douglas is a most keen supporter of this cartridge and may know more Joel - more pics sent, I have just had a thought re the barrel inscription, I could just photograph "Alexander Henry" easier than all of it TH
Squatter	Vernon Austen Malcolmson	#9	[-]
O/R Posts: 7 May 15 12 3:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello again TH, One way to find out if it is VAM would be to contact his descendents and enquire if he used a monogram. He was admitted to the peerage by marrying into the aristocracy, so didn't have a crest. But surely the Henry Ledgers held by John Dickson & Co will give the name of the original owner, provided you approach them on a good day - I have had some difficulties there. I would be most interested to know how the safety on the lever works, I can't tell from the photo. Do you know the purpose of the small slot on the block immediately above the firing pin recess? Most people dismiss it as a dent, but it is actually rather important. You mentioned a George Gibbs - is that the other of the last two rifles you wouldn't part with? I have a Gibbs, Farquharsons Patent 355 sporting rifle, I feel the same about it even though it has had a rough time. I am a little curious about yours. S
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joelblack88		#10	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2530 May 15 12 5:13 AM Sergeant Major Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The pictures are fine as they are. As soon as Tom stops fishing, I'll let you know if he can get them in the beginning of Vol 8.
Tacolneston		#11	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2500 May 15 12 12:36 PM Veteran of the Regiment Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The staff at John Dickson are very helpful and will tell you all about the leger entry details on the gun, but they don't give out details on the purchaser.
TH		#12	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 May 15 12 2:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks guys I had not thought about contacting John Dickson about the rifle's history Do you think it better to phone, write or email? I have only dealt with Holland & Holland on a similar request and they emailed me a copy of the sales ledger within 30 minutes of my phone call!! Squatter - The lever lock is clever, in the lower position there is an oval slot in the operating button that allows it (the button) to move forward (around the pin) to unlock the action. The safety 'catch/pin' (with a tiny detent spring to positively locate it ) moves up toward the trigger guard away from the slot so the button will not go forward - Q.E.D.! The small slot in the falling block is a machined semi-circle that I thought could have been a vent for a blown primer, but does not appear to connect through. Do you know what it is for? The George Gibbs (posted on NitroExpress forum a couple of years ago) I bought at Holt's as a "Westley Richards / Farquharson Patent" was an early Gibbs rebarreled or resleeved by Westley Richards in .500 Express around 1900. There are lots more peculiarities about it if you wish I will post it here in a couple of weeks when my current work is done. I would have to have a better example before it went, but they (Gibbs) are quit rare TH
Tacolneston		#13	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2500 May 15 12 2:17 PM Veteran of the Regiment Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I phoned them. The details are on their website. http://www.dicksonandmacnaughton.com/home/welcome.aspx
Squatter	Alex Henry's Safety Notch	#14	[-]
O/R Posts: 7 May 15 12 7:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi TH, Thanks for the description of the lever lock, I think I need to play with one to understand it fully. The notch on the breech block is indeed a machined semi-circle, and if you look at your photo "Left hand lock" you will note a small lip on the underside of the hammer. This significant feature was unknown to most writers including Kirton and Winfer. Many assume the notch is the result of the hammer hitting the breech, and in many cases it is damaged by just that. I figured Alex Henry, maker of exceptional rifles, had a reason for anything he did. It is in fact a safety feature, though prone to damage. If you lower the hammer to rest on the action sidewall when the breech is open, then inserted a cartridge in the chamber, then close the breech sharply, without this notch and lip the hammer can can fire the rifle as the hammer nose drops into the firing pin recess with some force. A friend of mine experienced this, fortunately with only a primed case. If in good condition, the lip on the hammer engages the notch and prevents the block from rising. This feature goes back to the earliest falling blocks, a sidelock prototype military rifle in .577 sent to South Australia in 1867 that I have inspected has it. Please post photos of your Gibbs, and when I have my whits together enough to comprehend the photo posting process I will do the same with mine. S
TH		#15	[-]
Sergeant Major Posts: 373 Jul 9 12 11:38 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	After 7 weeks I finally got round to telephoning John Dickson & Sons about this rifle. Very helpful service and I got the copy within 10 minutes A much better result than I expected! All numbers bore/barrel correct. 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, 7th Duke of Marlborough, paternal grandfather to Winston Churchill! No wonder it has the extras! 3rd line down No 4048 Thanks to Roy for giving me the Dickson contact, and all for your positive comments TH
PommyB		#16	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2263 Jul 9 12 6:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wow, great provenance!! Congratulations. *"For a man, be he ever so much resolved to do his duty as a parent, can't be flogging his children all day....."* The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. (William Thackeray).
joelblack88		#17	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2530 Jul 10 12 12:59 PM Sergeant Major Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tony, The provenance also elicited a wow from the normally taciturn Tom Rowe, who, BTW, tells me he knows you.
Bill Curtisra		#18	[-]
Veteran of the Regiment Posts: 2306 Jul 10 12 1:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I am wondering if there is some connection here between this rifle and the Prince of Wales's great tour of India in 1877. A lot of VIPs were with him and a good deal of tiger and other game shooting took place. I believe the D of M was not of the party but one of his relatives may have been ? W. S. Curtis, A.C.I.I., Vice President (Hon.), Crimean War Research Society, HBSA (Hon. Life), Assistant Curator, Museum of the National Rifle Association, Whitworth Rifle Research Project, MLAGB, NLRC, ATRA, &c.
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Alexander Henry Sporting Rifle

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