Alexander Henry, Edinburgh & London
12 bore Bar-action Hammergun
no. 4122
Date of manufacture: circa 1886
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment This hammergun represents a fine
example of the sporting hammerguns that were sold in substantial
numbers in the last quarter of the 19th century. The Stanton rebounding
locks are of very high quality and the Damascus barrels have a
lovely figure. One very interesting feature of this gun can be
found on the front barrel lump: a castellated pin with its associated
locking pin. Underneath this is what appears to be some kind of
plunger but we have been unable to find any relevant patent description.
It has been suggested that this was a mechanism for adjusting
bolting or jointing but it appears to have been deactivated, probably
by more modern re-jointing work. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US. |
The action is of traditional
bar-action design and features:
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey' type bolt by way of a 'Scott'
spindle with passive 'Dolls Head' top extension;
Double triggers (front chequered);
Stanton rebounding bar-action locks with high level hammers;
Percussion fences with Broad strikers
and Deeley forend catch.
Engraving style Best Foliate Scroll. Lock plates signed in a
scrolling banner.
Gun weight 7lb
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼
lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The re-browned, bold Damascus barrels are 29 3/4" in length,
chambered for 2 3/4 " (70mm) 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.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2013.
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
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| Right Barrel |
18.6mm (0.732")
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0.731"
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0.024"
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0.011" (IC)
Recessed |
| Left Barrel |
18.7mm (0.736")
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0.737"
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0.022"
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0.013" (IC) |
The Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut and the stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot, features finely engraved heel & toe plates and a vacant white metal oval. The forend features an engraved steel tip.
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Well Figured walnut
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The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
to a normal bar-action sidelock pattern.
The forend is fully chequered and carries a horn tip.
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:
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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 1/2"
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14 3/4"
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14 1/2"
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15 1/8"
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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 1/2"
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1 3/4"
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2 1/4"
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Cast-on at Comb
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Cast-on at Heel
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1/16 approx
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1/8 approx
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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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
Deeley's forend fastener patent
no. 1422 of 1873.