Hi all,
I've been recuperating from surgery and waiting to feel well enough to take some pics of a new friend. She isn't the fanciest rifle to come out of Mr Henry's shop, but has been carefully looked after these past 129 years.

Major Crabbe ordered this .450 3 1/4" BPE with simple border engraving, but splurged on a best quality oak and leather case bearing his initials along with a monogrammed shield. From the railroad labels it looks like he made a trip or two to the Scottish Highlands for stag.

I'm not sure of Major Crabbe's fate, but I imagine his double sat unused for many years after his death. The Stanton locks are shown as removed, likely for the first time since the gun was assembled. The balance of the rifle remains in fine, original shape including the excellent damascus barrels.

I only had the chance to shoot the rifle once prior to my operation, but she looks like she wants to shoot. I expect that the groups will converge nicely with another couple of grains of 4198. Deer season seems awfully far away now, but I'm really looking forward to heading to the woods with her this fall. I have never handled such an exquisitely well balanced rifle.

Hope you all enjoy the pics and I look forward to posting some more load development work once I can get back to the range.

Bill, great looking piece. And it looks like you're only a grain or two away (increase) from a perfect group. Recover quickly....there's lots more game to be shot out there :-)

Great looking rifle!

This also brought back some childhood memories when I saw the Haymarket sticker. When I was a kid I used to take the bus from East Calder to Haymarket every day for school.

Get well soon; I owned the mate to that rifle in 1980 but it didn't have a case; it was an exact match to yours. Stupidly sold it to buy something modern; should have kept the Alex Henry.

What a fantastic looking rifle. The best to your health and shooting a fine deer with that very fine double rifle.

Mike

Congratulations! Beautiful rifle and case!

Gents,
thanks for the compliments on the Henry and that I get back on my feet. As the day of my initial surgery drew close, my good friend and DR mentor was kind to get me down to his range to shoot the Henry and had loaded up some starter rounds for me. He figured correctly that this would get us in the ballpark, but be a little short. His load was damn close and we have every expectation of getting her dialed in at our next range session. We finished that ammo shooting balloons off hand at about 70 yards, and had a ball. It's a hell of a lot of fun drawing those hammers back-the locks have a certain precision like the movement on a fine automatic time piece. The Jones lever is a stout affair and I'm getting used to it. In any event, that afternoon became the 'happy place' I visited and revisited during my month in the hospital when I was being induced for surgery or just high on pain pumps and having roaming thoughts!

I can't imagine not having a modern double, but can say with equal conviction that I'd be denying myself a great deal of fun to not have one of these grand old relics. From a hunting standpoint, I'm really looking forward to going old school this season with the Henry, and some up close spot and stalk. Be nice to leave the 270 and rangefinder home.

Bill-
Hope you are feeling better. Great looking gun.

Reverse evolution can be a step forward.

Enjoy and Get Well soon.

Many Thanks

HBH

Oh how absolutely cool is that???? Marvelous. I always wanted a case like that for my double so folks could wonder long after I was gone. Very nice indeed!

Agree Jorge-it would be nice if all rifles had a note detailing their history tucked in the case or under the pad. In any event our new rifles of today will be speculated about in the same way.

Ken, I owe you a call and look forward to catching up!

Thanks all

vagrouser: can you post more pics of the case with his name on it? I'm working on mine

Jorge,
My pleasure, although this rifle's case only has his 3 initials on the lid. My favorite are those bearing multi-colored painted stripes corresponding to the owner's unit standard along with their name, rank and regiment, etc (e.g. King's Hussars, XYZ Infantry). As new owners come into possession, it is not uncommon to see where the original embossed section is cut away and a new piece fit with the updated info.
I'm sure some good examples can be found on the net; I've got time on my hands and will hunt around on the NE forum to see if I can find some good images.

Thank you very much sir. I guess I need to go over there and look as well, haven't visited for a while. Presently I'm looking at cases at Galazan's and I have an oval leather patch Ken gave me from VC, I wish VC would make a label like the Brits do! jorge

Mzuri sana.

Thanks Lavaca-had to look that one up, but now I can say a couple words in Swahili.

Jorge,
Here are two pics illustrating the painted stripes, embossed unit designation, and replaced owner's info. The cases house (in order) gorgeous Purdey and Alex Henry BPE doubles and belong to Cpt Curl on the nitroexpress forum.

Comparatively speaking, my rifle is the "PH" model of the period; to see examples of Henry's (and Purdey's) Best rifles take a look at this thread. Curl has an incredible collection and is a great photographer.

Thanks! they look great. EVentually I'll pick a desing and go with it. Thanks again! jorge

Hey Bill, congrats on your latest purchase! If it came from Curl's collection, you know it's right. When you start feeling better, let's get together and chase some birds with our Setters.

Don,
This one didn't come from Curl's collection, but he went through it with a fine tooth comb and gave it a thumbs up.

Ken told me you got a fantastic Setter and she's even wormed her way into the house full time, like mine. You'll never get rid of the hair, but I wouldn't have it otherwise. I would love to get together and put all of them on birds. First, we need to hit McGarvey's or John Stevens for some beers and seafood when it gets nicer out.

You're on!