I have an Alex Henry falling block 450 3 1/4 with a very light 29 1/2" tube.The shallow Herny rifleing looks terrible and very dark.I haven't fired it because of the cost to gear up to the 450 ctg.but I assume it won't shoot too well.
I am considering having a new barrel fitted to match the origional contures. Relining is out according to Redmans relining service of Omak, Wash. because of the very small diameter of the barrel.
Can anyone suggest a gunsmith capable of duplicating the origional barrel with the flats at the breech.
Thanks
AkMike

I would give Mark Stratton a call. He does custom octagon barrels. I bet he could do it. He just finished one for me. He is reasonably priced, the work came in on time and he's very easy to communicate with (very important.)

Terry

Mike,
I've had two #1's done with octagonal barrels by johntaylormachine.com. He is Washington state. If you need more information or want to see them let me know. I'm in Anchorage too.

This is basicly a round tube with oversized flats at the breech end.

AlexHenry

Mike,

I'd confirm that the barrel is actually bad before you go rebarreling an Alex Henry. I've had a few of his BPE's and some of the barrels looked a little rough but shot well nonetheless. This gun was designed to shoot paper pathced bullets. If you need a good primer on shooting a paper patched bullet in a Henry rifled barrel, Ross Seyfried wrote an excellent article in Rifle magazine some years ago. Sherman Bell has as well in the Doublegun Journal. I apologize if my post comes off sounding as though I'm speaking to a novice... it isn't intended to. I love old black powder express rifles and Alex Henry's are at the top of my list. I hate to see them lose their barrels when they can still be made to shoot the way they were intended to be shot. The real key is knowing the bullet weight the rifle was regulated to. You can also make a lead slug for the bore and lapp the barrel lightly and probably take off some of the roughness of the bore.

I'll second Brianbos comments. I've had several BPEs with rough bores that shot quite well and smoothed up with a little use and cleaning. Plus you have a huge advantage in a bore diameter that has a large number of available bullets, an easy case to work with and a lot of good data. Don't want to sound preachy but remember you are the temporary caretaker of a fine example of the gunmakers art. Best.

Mike, I'd be happy to send you some information on paper patching. It's not difficult and kinda fun... the ultimate retro reloading.

Thanks for the offer but I can and do roll my own with a Ballard and a Bullard. The tube on this one is too rough IMO

I'd put that opinion to the test and shoot it first. You just might save some bucks, and keep that grand old girl original.

I had one many years ago, a double 500 BPE that was rough. So rough that it would strip the paper patch mid-bore. I slugged and lapped it and it shot surprisingly well after that. I'd think long and hard about who to send it to, as I'm sure you're doing... Martini & Hagn, Monte Mandarino, Pete Mazur would be on the list, but Martini & Hagn would be the ones I'd most likely go to.

I could try lapping the bore. It couldn't hurt any!
Some of you guys seem to think I'm butchering this rifle! No way! I'm just talking about changing the barrel with out any other changes, no wood changes no other metal work. The origional barrel would go with the rifle IF I ever sell it.
I've done the same thing to a first year(1885) mfg'd high thick wall with a swelled out chamber. It did no harm and now it works. The factory pipe is still here and will go with it if and when I sell.