HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT, VERY EARLY ALEXANDER HENRY BAR LOCK ACTION DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.

SN 1421. Cal. .577 2-3/4 BPE. This exceptionally early rifle, action no. 8, is possibly the first commercially sold Alex Henry rifle, as 6 of the first rifles produced were submitted to government trial. This large caliber rifle has 28″ slightly tapered, round bbl mounted with interesting tangent express rear sight with long range ladder, and small bead front sight mounted on pedestal. Top of bbl is engraved “Alex’r Henry 12 South St. Andrews St.” in front of rear sight, and “Edinburgh Patent Nos 831 and 8” referring to patent use numbers of bbl 831 and action 8. Earliest type dropping block action with extreme cutaway breech block to help seat recalcitrant rounds and earliest type sliding extractor, is border engraved and marked on top of thin receiver ring “Patent No 8”. Simple operating lever has push button lock engaging slot in trigger guard bow. Bar action lock features forward sliding safety, which engages at half cock, with tall round bodied serpentine hammer. Lockplate has border engraving and is marked “Alex’r Henry”. Trigger guard has checkered spur extending into pistol grip. Nicely figured and lightly marbled dark European walnut buttstock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with medium tang. Grip is checkered in point pattern with mullered borders. “F. O’Brien “Orange”” is stamped on left side of butt toward plate. (Orange probably refers to Orange Free State, South Africa.) Matching forend with horn tip attaches to bbl with captive side nail through shaped oval border engraved escutcheons. Drop at heel: approx 2-3/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 7 lbs. 7 oz. LOP: 14″. CONDITION: Good. Bbl retains approx 30% of what appears to be orig blue with considerable light pitting overall, balance turning to brown. Action is mostly dark pewter gray, with scant traces of case hardening color in protected areas. Lock is mostly gray to brown with traces of fire blue on safety. Stocks retain what appears to be orig oil finish, maintained over the years with rubbed in oil, with numerous marks, bumps, and digs. Metal of buttplate is proud of wood. Front flute of comb appears to have been chipped many years ago, and has been smoothed over. A section of forend under front portion of lock has been replaced. Lock is crisp. Safety works. Breech block is loose, and has been peaned to tighten. 3/8″ x 1/2″ area of floorplate is chipped out and missing, probably from over zealous use of opening lever. Bore, with strong rifling, is lightly pitted throughout. This interesting rifle is illustrated and described in BRITISH SINGLE SHOT RIFLES Vol. 1 by Wal Winfer on p. 41, figure 26, and listed by Jonathan Kirton in his chapter on Alexander Henry in THE BRITISH FALLING BLOCK BREECHLOADING RIFLE FROM 1865, as the second earliest and as “sporting rifle border engraved”, with only patent use no. 3 being earlier. which is listed as “R & D for Army trials”. 4-51931 MGM53 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 2259

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2259	$2,587.50	HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT, VERY EARLY ALEXANDER HENRY BAR LOCK ACTION DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. SN 1421. Cal. .577 2-3/4 BPE. This exceptionally early rifle, action no. 8, is possibly the first commercially sold Alex Henry rifle, as 6 of the first rifles produced were submitted to government trial. This large caliber rifle has 28″ slightly tapered, round bbl mounted with interesting tangent express rear sight with long range ladder, and small bead front sight mounted on pedestal. Top of bbl is engraved “Alex’r Henry 12 South St. Andrews St.” in front of rear sight, and “Edinburgh Patent Nos 831 and 8” referring to patent use numbers of bbl 831 and action 8. Earliest type dropping block action with extreme cutaway breech block to help seat recalcitrant rounds and earliest type sliding extractor, is border engraved and marked on top of thin receiver ring “Patent No 8”. Simple operating lever has push button lock engaging slot in trigger guard bow. Bar action lock features forward sliding safety, which engages at half cock, with tall round bodied serpentine hammer. Lockplate has border engraving and is marked “Alex’r Henry”. Trigger guard has checkered spur extending into pistol grip. Nicely figured and lightly marbled dark European walnut buttstock measures 14″ over steel buttplate with medium tang. Grip is checkered in point pattern with mullered borders. “F. O’Brien “Orange”” is stamped on left side of butt toward plate. (Orange probably refers to Orange Free State, South Africa.) Matching forend with horn tip attaches to bbl with captive side nail through shaped oval border engraved escutcheons. Drop at heel: approx 2-3/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 7 lbs. 7 oz. LOP: 14″. CONDITION: Good. Bbl retains approx 30% of what appears to be orig blue with considerable light pitting overall, balance turning to brown. Action is mostly dark pewter gray, with scant traces of case hardening color in protected areas. Lock is mostly gray to brown with traces of fire blue on safety. Stocks retain what appears to be orig oil finish, maintained over the years with rubbed in oil, with numerous marks, bumps, and digs. Metal of buttplate is proud of wood. Front flute of comb appears to have been chipped many years ago, and has been smoothed over. A section of forend under front portion of lock has been replaced. Lock is crisp. Safety works. Breech block is loose, and has been peaned to tighten. 3/8″ x 1/2″ area of floorplate is chipped out and missing, probably from over zealous use of opening lever. Bore, with strong rifling, is lightly pitted throughout. This interesting rifle is illustrated and described in BRITISH SINGLE SHOT RIFLES Vol. 1 by Wal Winfer on p. 41, figure 26, and listed by Jonathan Kirton in his chapter on Alexander Henry in THE BRITISH FALLING BLOCK BREECHLOADING RIFLE FROM 1865, as the second earliest and as “sporting rifle border engraved”, with only patent use no. 3 being earlier. which is listed as “R & D for Army trials”. 4-51931 MGM53 (4,000-6,000) – Lot 2259 Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT, VERY EARLY ALEXANDER HENRY BAR LOCK ACTION DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.