Alexander Henry, 12 South Street, Edinburgh
12 bore Bar-action hammergun
no. 38145
Year of manufacture: pre-1887 (probably 1886)
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This hammergun represents a fine
example of the provincial sporting hammergun that were sold in
substantial numbers in the last quarter of the 19th century. It
was very probably manufactured by the famous and highly respected
gunmaker W&C Scott and Son for Alexander Henry, indications
include the Scott Patent forend catch and the serial number that
does not fit with Henry's numbering system but does agree with
an 1886 date for W&C Scott & Son. The Stanton rebounding
locks are of high quality and the Damascus barrels have a lovely
figure. The gun has been professionally restocked in recent times
with a highly figured piece of wood and this coupled with the
sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty, safe and highly
'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action is of traditional
design and features:
Double triggers, Stanton rebounding bar-action locks with low level
hammers,
Percussion fences, Broad strikers,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey' type bolt by way of a 'Scott'
spindle,
Patent Scott lever forend catch.
This gun can be opened when the right lock is cocked.
Engraving style Best foliate scroll with traces of original colour
hardening. Gun weight 6lb 12oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 4lbs
The re-browned 'Laminated Steel' Damascus barrels are 29 1/4"
in length, chambered for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges and are
of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top
rib is of the smooth, concave, game type and was recently re-laid.
The bores exhibit a little vestigial pitting in both tubes, left to
maintain wall thicknesses.
London reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 1990.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
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0.724+"
|
0.023+"
|
0.004" (Recessed)
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Left Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
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0.723"
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0.026+"
|
0.006" (Recessed)
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The replacement Straight Hand Stock
and original Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut
and the stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot.
The 22 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
to a normal, semi-borderless sidelock design and the stock is finished
with chequered butt. The stock is finished with a traditional linseed
oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English
makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth
lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.
Approximate stock
measurements at date of publication:
Pull to Heel
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 5/8"
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14 11/16"
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14 7/16"
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14 11/16"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 1/4"
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1 5/8"
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2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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1/16" (approximate)
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3/16"
(approximate)
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For the purposes of these measurements,
'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular
to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8"
from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).
Patents Exhibited include:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Scott's forend fastener patent no. 615 of 1876.