Query about Henry rifle.

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Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 25 Nov 2018, 4:22 pm

I have a drop-block Aleaxander Henry saddle carbine here; one of the few notable remnants my grandfathers collection.

It has 'NSW Police - 1877' stamped on the receiver.

Rifle looks to be in working condition, and in fact looks pretty darned good for it's age.
I had one gunsmith give it a cursory inspection about 10 years ago, and he was quite confident it would be fine to shoot, but I now realise that we never discussed exactly what caliber it is.

Before I considered pulling the trigger, I'd get a gunsmith to do a more detailed follow-up inspection, to be certain it's up for the challenge.

HOWEVER, before we get to that...

Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Henry? Are they a .577-450 Martini cartridge?
From what I've read, it seems it might be either a .577-450, or a .450 3 1/4". Going by the date of supply of the batches, it seems more likely to be .577-450.
I'll have to dig up the specs on both cartridges, and see what else the rifle itself might tell me..
My mate who restored and loaded me up rounds for the .45-90 Winchester 1885 High-wall, has expressed interest in assisting in prepping this rifle for the big bang (in the dim & distant future).

Any info on the rifle would be appreciated.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Noisydad » 25 Nov 2018, 4:28 pm

Now I’m more than a tad jealous! That’s gunna a stupid amount of fun to shoot! Here’s a link to whet the taste buds...
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=alex ... ohus-531UM:
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by bladeracer » 25 Nov 2018, 4:33 pm

Rod_outbak wrote:I have a drop-block Aleaxander Henry saddle carbine here; one of the few notable remnants my grandfathers collection.

It has 'NSW Police - 1877' stamped on the receiver.

Rifle looks to be in working condition, and in fact looks pretty darned good for it's age.
I had one gunsmith give it a cursory inspection about 10 years ago, and he was quite confident it would be fine to shoot, but I now realise that we never discussed exactly what caliber it is.

Before I considered pulling the trigger, I'd get a gunsmith to do a more detailed follow-up inspection, to be certain it's up for the challenge.

HOWEVER, before we get to that...

Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Henry? Are they a .577-450 Martini cartridge?
From what I've read, it seems it might be either a .577-450, or a .450 3 1/4". Going by the date of supply of the batches, it seems more likely to be .577-450.
I'll have to dig up the specs on both cartridges, and see what else the rifle itself might tell me..
My mate who restored and loaded me up rounds for the .45-90 Winchester 1885 High-wall, has expressed interest in assisting in prepping this rifle for the big bang (in the dim & distant future).

Any info on the rifle would be appreciated.


Get some casting alloy from Northern Smelters and do a chamber cast, no mess, takes five minutes.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 25 Nov 2018, 5:12 pm

Huh!

bladeracer; many thanks. Hadnt even considered such, but thats a GREAT idea!

Brisbane based, and a freaking handy piece of kit to have on hand.

Cheers,

Rod.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by pete1 » 25 Nov 2018, 5:18 pm

I'd love to see some photos (gun porn) of such a rare find
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by bladeracer » 25 Nov 2018, 5:27 pm

Rod_outbak wrote:Huh!

bladeracer; many thanks. Hadnt even considered such, but thats a GREAT idea!

Brisbane based, and a freaking handy piece of kit to have on hand.

Cheers,

Rod.


I use the plastic or cardboard tubes off NGK spark plugs to keep it from getting into the locking lug area. Push a patch into the bore an inch or two past the neck to block it, drop the tube in on top of the breech face. I heat the Cerrosafe in a tuna can with a torch - it melts at 60-70C, then pour it into the chamber. Wonderful stuff to work with. Also amazing to use it to hold irregular-shaped parts in a lathe chuck :-)
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 25 Nov 2018, 6:00 pm

pete1,

Give me a day or two, and I'll get some shots of it.

Cheers,

Rod.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Bent Arrow » 25 Nov 2018, 7:50 pm

You cant really tell us you've got something like that and then make us wait a day or two for photos. That's just mean........
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 25 Nov 2018, 8:01 pm

My bad; wasnt sure if anyone would have even been remotely interested in it...

Sorry, Bent Arrow; the rifle is over in the gunroom, and I've got to go to town tomorrow for groceries.

So I'm afraid you'll have to pull on the big boy pants, and wait...

If you can wait, I've also got a .577 Enfield w/Snider conversion, to take pics of as well.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by pete1 » 25 Nov 2018, 8:31 pm

Rod_outbak wrote:pete1,

Give me a day or two, and I'll get some shots of it.

Cheers,

Rod.



Looking forward to it
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Daddybang » 26 Nov 2018, 8:29 am

I'd love to see the Snider. . :thumbsup: :drinks:
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 27 Nov 2018, 6:30 pm

Right; Here's a few of the pics of the Henry.

The rifle needs a good clean-up, but thats something for the future..

I'll try to post some more images tomorrow, and also maybe some of the Snider.

Neither rifle have been looked after as well as I'd like, but at some stage in the mid-term, I'd like to have them restored as much as possible without buggering them. I suspect this Henry is fireable, but thats something to be evaluated in the future. No idea on the Snider, though it's got enough proof marks on it to write a freaking novel!

On an aside, we were told by a historian some years ago, that this rifle is likely the type that apprehended (or tried to) the swagman at Combo waterhole; the story told in the Banjo Patterson song titled "Waltzing Matilda".

Cheers,

Rod.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Daddybang » 27 Nov 2018, 6:55 pm

That's a bloody nice bit of history rod :thumbsup: :drinks:
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Bent Arrow » 28 Nov 2018, 8:04 am

Daddybang wrote:That's a bloody nice bit of history rod :thumbsup: :drinks:


+1. Nice find mate. I would just clean it, not restore it.
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by pete1 » 28 Nov 2018, 4:19 pm

i bet your glad your grandfather brought that one
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Re: Query about Henry rifle.

Post by Rod_outbak » 28 Nov 2018, 8:40 pm

Pete1,

I'm not really sure about the history of the rifle; my grandfather died when I was a toddler, so never had a chance to discuss the firearms he acquired during his life. I wish to God I'd had the chance to talk to him when i was old enough to appreciate it; he seemed to collect firearms based on the variations on action/breech design, which meant some of the firearms in the collection when he died, were quite varied.
When he toured Europe in the 1950's with my grandmother, they apparently toured the Fabrique De Nationale factory (Belgium?), as well as Beretta when they went through Italy. My grandmother told me they treated them like royalty, and yet he was an electrical engineer by trade.

I suspect there are still hidden gems to be found in the gunroom; not new firearms, but associated gear that will be unusual.
Reminds me; there is a WWII heavy ordnance optical sight/rangefinder there somewhere. I should dig it out, and take another look at it...
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