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Alexander Henry Best 8 Bore Single Barrel Shot and Ball Gun 1873
Guns International #: 100616708 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Shotguns - 4 and 8 Gauge - Rifles - African Dangerous Game Safari Single Shot
Seller's Information
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Seller: Grouse Grove
Member Since: 3/17/07
State: Montana
Country: United States
Phone: (406) 442-2322
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 20
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted:
Description:
Gorgeous and rare Alex Henry best eight bore single barrel shot and ball gun, completed on December 27, 1873. This is how it is described in the Alex Henry ledger (courtesy of the firm of John Dickson, Edinburgh.)
Best Single C.F. Gun 8 Bore 36-inch barrel Lefx Back Action Stock 1 5/8", 2 1/8", 14 1/2"
Work Plated For Shot and Ball 27 Dec 1873 E. F. Cambier
That would be Ernest Frederick Cambier, born the 5th of April 1842. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant on the 1st of March 1863, and was subsequently promoted to Captain on the 8th of December 1875, then Major on the 1st of November 1882, Lt. Colonel on the 1st of November 1889, and, finally, Colonel on the19th of February, 1895. (Many thanks for this information to Mr. Donald Dallas, the extremely erudite gun author and historian, who went to the Edinburgh library on his lunch break to research this gun for me.)
If a feather weighs 11 lbs, 6 oz, then this beautiful "shot and ball" gun is light as a feather. All kidding aside, it is surprisingly well balanced. The Damscus barrel has a smooth and shiny bore. The action with its Jones underlever locks up tight, and the non-rebounding lock is crisp as new. (The underlever screw is an un-engraved replacement.)
The strikingly figured walnut stock has plenty of dings and indentations, and one inch-long cut near the checkered steel butt plate, but is solid with crisp checkering. The forend features an ebony (or horn?) tip with the distinctive Alex Henry groove. On the right side of the butt stock, near the butt plate, is the number 68.
The top of the barrel reads: ALEXr HENRY. 12 SOUTH St ANDREW St EDINBURGH/MAKER TO THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH
On the left side of the action: 8 BORE. SHOT 2 oz. POWDER 5 1/4 Drs./BALL POWDER 5 Drs WAD OVER POWDER & BALL
Interestingly, this gun was reproved for nitro. There are two sets of marks from the Birmingham Proof House, with the first set from the period between 1868 and 1887 consistent with the gun's manufacture date), and the second set from the period between 1954 and 1989. Clearly, someone was using this gun in the fairly recent past (presumably for waterfowl.)
This is a rare and beautifully crafted example of the gunmaker's art from the very dawn of the breechloading era, and a wonderful piece of history.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Alex Henry
Bore: 8
Manufacture Date: 1873