doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Alexander Henry hammer shotgun ( & pictures)

Hi all, just wanted to know if anyone has information on my new hammer shotgun. I'd just like to know approx year of manufacture (serial no. 5071), the age of the new proof marks from the re-sleeving and also what's the heaviest load its proofed for in ounces.
I'm 18 years old and after a rough start to my collection of hammer guns I was very exited to win this at the "Australian Arms Auctions" in October last year for what I thought was a very reasonable $1100. the guns action is still like new and the bores which have been re-sleeved are flawless.
any info on the gun would be very appreciated as well as pictures of anyone else's Alex Henry hammer shotguns. I can't wait to take this gun out in the field soon!

Cheers Rhys














this shows the excellent sleeve join on the barrels

Rhys, you've done marvelously and your collection is off to a grand beginning. Your shotgun, which is in superb condition, looks to be made in 1881.

Alexander Henry is a personal favorite gunmaker. Currently I have a beautiful double rifle (.450 3 1/4")from 1873 and a gorgeous 12 bore percussion double cased to the nines with nearly all the attendant accoutrements, crafted in 1860 or 1861.

I envy you your youth! Learn all you can and stay with it and you're sure to build a wonderful collection of fine antique firearms, the BEST kind - those in such good shape you can actually shoot them as they were designed to do!

**I just looked over your shotgun again. It is REALLY a great acquisition!

Thanks for that Krakow Kid and yes I am extremely pleased with the new gun and its condition. luckily for me it was put in the wrong category in the auction making it hidden from the shotgun enthusiasts and leaving me to take home a steal!

You could not have made a better start to your collection than with a Scottish gun. As I've said before, those fellas in London could learn a few things from them.

The rounded bar in iron guns handle really nicely too.

And Kid, how about a few pics of the 12 bore percussion?

I shall now take cover.....

Rhys, is that $1100 AUS Dollars or $1100 USD?

$1100 AUS dollars

Yep Rhys, sweet Gun man.The sleeve joint looks to have been done very tidily.Some people don't care for sleeved Guns...but If it can get you into a lovely old Gun like that,a classy shooter with basically new bbls for about 1000usd,what's not to like?
Hope you're still shooting it when your 90 .
Can help with any of your Q's, but you did well I'd say.
cheers
franc

Very nice old gun. Congrats on a fine start.

I've got 2 double rifles and a single shot from the master, Alex Henry. The Scotts were making grand guns along side the best of London.
You've made a great buy with that fine SG.

Rhys95, welcome to the board. You have a very nice gun by a well known maker and at a very favorable price. There are two factors you need to control in selecting ammo. The first is pressure and the second is recoil. Pressure affects the metal parts and joints between parts. Recoil affects the wood.

Pressure is controlled by shooting ONLY loads, factory or reload, of KNOWN pressure. IN the USA, we are able to buy suitable loads from RST. Equally, we are able to make reloads easily and at about 50-75% of the cost of factory.

Recoil is a function of ejecta weight and ejecta velocity squared. If you will confine your shooting to 7/8 oz and 1 oz loads at about 1200 fps and 1 1/8 oz loads to less than 1150 fps, you should be fine.

Generally, loads below 7000 psi should be fine. Will you buy or reload? The 3 1/4 ton per square inch proof for 2 3/4" chambers is nice. It proves the gun is reasonably strong. The chance of it "blowing up" is remote. However, I'd not recommend a steady diet of CIP shells.

Questions?

DDA