Alexander Henry, 12 South Street, Edinburgh
12 bore Bar-action hammergun
no. 38145

Year of manufacture: pre-1887 (probably 1886)



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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.

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:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.4mm (0.724")
0.724+"
0.023+"
0.004" (Recessed)
Left Barrel
18.4mm (0.724")
0.723"
0.026+"
0.006" (Recessed)

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.

Well figured walnut
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
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 5/8"
14 11/16"
14 7/16"
14 11/16"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/4"
1 5/8"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
3/16" (approximate)

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.