Hello Rick W,
Would you have any suggestions as how one might inquire as to information about the original owner? When you say the original ledger is no longer available for photocopy, is there any chance that only the information is still available? I would dearly love to find out for who this rifle was built and where it was shipped.
As for measuring the chamber cast, it is a 7 groove barrel and if I slowly roll the cast within a digital caliper, I get a low reading of .4575 inches, and a high reading of .467 inches. With a bore / groove this large, I'm a little surprised my .459 bullets shoot as well as they do. I typically use a soft, 30:1 lead tin mix for schuetzen bullets, and have used the same here.
As to being plain, yes, this seems very plain by comparison to all other Alex Henry rifles that I have seen pictured. In fact, I've yet to find another plain one. But the quality and condition of this one is "absolutely superb", retaining nearly 99% blue and vivid color on the cased parts. I really like the delicate edge border engraving.
