AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Curtis on September 09, 2022, 08:17:22 AM
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Seeing Rolf's post on making an Alex Henry lock reminded me I have yet to post any photos of my finished rifle. (original build posted here:https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=55149.0 (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=55149.0))
The lock, breech and standing breech were color cased by Randy Grunkemeyer, the trigger plate, trigger and pistol grip cap were color cased by Tom Snyder. All other finish work was done by yours truly... the trigger guard and buttplate were given a "Bright English Charcoal Blue" and the barrel was rust blued. The wood finish was covered in the original posting. I should mention I let my highly polished barrel rust too long during the rusting and got a fair amount of pitting.
Enough typing, now for some photos!
(https://i.ibb.co/pPD4ZSj/P8143313.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kynq0t2)
(https://i.ibb.co/9T0DtRF/P8143314.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z8rjmyn)
(https://i.ibb.co/ssJRYj5/P8143315.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wprgmyJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/2k1qnBG/P8143320.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Krp60HT)
(https://i.ibb.co/NZkLNR8/P8143323.jpg) (https://ibb.co/86RjxkW)
(https://i.ibb.co/HdkJPGk/P8143325.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vYKtdLK)
(https://i.ibb.co/L8N4dkJ/P8143329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qdJbYyW)
(https://i.ibb.co/GQZjZqK/P8143330.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hFGvGSP)
(https://i.ibb.co/2WvwtGw/P8143332.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7jnHWsH)
(https://i.ibb.co/jhmN3K9/P8143336.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fMfgrRV)
(https://i.ibb.co/wcTXRRs/P8143337.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PDRnNNQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/FJHxYxZ/P8143338.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4M1mSmv)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZTR1jLm/P8143342.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BsHKpzN)
(https://i.ibb.co/5cM5mKB/P8143348.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JkBzV35)
(https://i.ibb.co/qrNz3W1/P8143353.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DR9NH8K)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZBkSf8X/P8143354.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wSx7dWg)
(https://i.ibb.co/YfC0vDV/P8143356.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DwJr3Gj)
Thanks for looking, comments and questions are welcomed!
Curtis
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Thanks for posting pictures of the rifle. Truly beautiful work.
Best regards
Rolf
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Wow my god, this is the most beautiful Alexander Henry I saw
Super executed
Thanks for sharing Hawkeye
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Beautiful beyond description. I have spent the last two hours going back over the posts of the construction of this rifle. Truly outstanding work at a master level. I am hoping that it shoots for you as good as it looks.
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Beautiful gun. Next we want to see targets
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Beautiful rifle! A work of art! Your other post—about the build—is fantastic as well.
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WOW!
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Wow!! As one who remembers your humble beginning I would say that you are now the #1 surviving master of the English rifle. You have learned your lessons well.
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It can't be possible to do it better, Beautiful work.
Tim
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Absolutely beautiful Curtis
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Great, great work Curtis.
Fun to look at,
Jeff
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Hi Curtiss,
That is beautiful and looks exactly like it should!
dave
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Beautiful work!
Tony
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Really nice
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Wonderful work Curtis. But I concur with other posters...need to see targets.
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I keep thinking that you will show up one of these days to shoot that thing.
Fleener
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Oh my, beautiful!
Michael
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that is really amazing. Looks fantastic.
I think I'll be getting some parts from Rod to build one too.
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Spectacular!!
Nicely done!
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Extremely well done.Paper patched bullets may be the best but you can try lubed ones as well.Lyman 451114 may still be available because of the Gibbs? Pedersoli rifles. Refresh my feeble mlnd,did I make that lock or??.The one I made back in 2002 used a GM 450/458 with 8 grooves and a 1 in 18 twist and I used a Ron Long custom Mould that made a 550 grain grooved bullet and the breech loaders had no advantage at 500 meters except easier loading.Mine was a stalking rifle because I had a good looking trigger guard copied from an original
and my own 4 screw lock and front and rear sights.I used Don Brown's semi finished stock and it went together with no problems and was very plain with no engraving or checkering.
Bob Roller
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Curtis,
Really beautiful stock work, crisp lines and the checkering is superb.
Dennis
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I'm not familiar with Alexander Henry's work, but I do know outstanding craftsmanship when I see it. Wow! That is absolutely gorgeous!
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Well WOW, thanks everyone I'm flattered to hear all the positive comments! I learned a lot on this one, hopefully I can remember most of it. : ) The most nerve-wracking part of the build was probably the checkering, though the engraving was a challenge in it's own right.
It seems to shoot pretty nicely, I shot it at Friendship the Spring of 2021 at the 500 yard rams and targets - TOF spotted for me and we were able to get it dialed in after several rounds downrange. After that I was hitting the target 75-80% of the time even with my bad form. I haven't shot it since but hope to get out and punch some targets with it soon. I can get about a 260 yard shot at my range here and will see what groups I can come up with.
Wow!! As one who remembers your humble beginning I would say that you are now the #1 surviving master of the English rifle. You have learned your lessons well.
I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say that! However I certainly appreciate all the help you have given me over the years, on this rifle and including the first gun I built 18 years or so ago back when you had the Campfire Bulletin Board.
Also got some great help with this rifle from Jim Westberg (may he rest in peace!) and Tom Snyder
I keep thinking that you will show up one of these days to shoot that thing.
Fleener
You and me both Art! I'm hoping this year and the next is the magic time for it to finally happen. ;)
Extremely well done.Paper patched bullets may be the best but you can try lubed ones as well.Lyman 451114 may still be available because of the Gibbs? Pedersoli rifles. Refresh my feeble mind,did I make that lock or??........
Bob Roller
Bob, this is one of Rod England's locks, I haven't had the good luck to score one of yours yet! I have been shooting 530gr PP bullets from Buffalo Arms mold
JIM4435350E and 86 gr Swiss FFg, a combo I got from Art. It seems to work well. I also acquired a Buffalo Arms mold for a 530gr GG bullet but haven't fired any of those yet.
Again, thanks everyone for all the kind words!
Curtis
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The end result of a lot of Careful work. It turned out lovely! Too bad about the barrel “pitting” is there a possibility of repolishing?
I’m looking forward to starting on my Rod England A.Henry Kit this winter. His components are very, very well done and are of the very best quality.
I really appreciate your posting of your build as it will really help me during my build and will help avoiding some “pitfalls”.
Cheers Richard
PS super neat engraving!
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Richard,
Thanks and yes, the solution to the problem would be to strip the barrel and re-polish. That may be in the card for some future date, or maybe not as this rifle was built to be a shooter.
Curtis
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That's a gorgeous rifle, with outstanding workmanship!
John
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Top flight work, Curtis!
It Looks so Right!!
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Some beautiful work as others have said.
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Great looking rifle. Well done all the way around.
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Absolutely stunning! I followed along the original posting and have been wondering if it was finished. Sending a PM.
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Thank you kindly Gentlemen! I like these rifle so much I may build a stalking version for myself one of these days.
Curtis
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Really beautiful.
Are these parts sets/kits still available? I did a web search but couldn't find anything
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The kits are still available, and Rod is continually refining the parts & stocks.
Rod's number (best time to call is between 7 and 9 pm eastern time): (864) 590-6718
Email: rengland451@gmail.com
Tell him you saw one on ALR!
Curtis
(https://i.ibb.co/zs3CS8v/cover.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y25JtDs)
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Sorry everyone, missed adding these:
(https://i.ibb.co/bJVxBLb/P8143321.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YZS6k80)
(https://i.ibb.co/TMph04L/P8143328.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VYrBCgm)
Curtis
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My hats off to your chequering job, Curtis!
it looks Perfect, and I know how much pain goes into that kind of work!
Perfect work!
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Congratulations, not many folks succeed in mastering a crafts necessary to build a fine rifle,but you have! It has that look of a fine English gun that is difficult to achieve.
I would like you to be my shop superintendent.
Signed, A. Henry
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For everyone who offered the comment that they hoped Curtis' rifle shot as well as it looked, it did. Curtis took home a medal at his first LRML match at this year's Creedmoor 150 in Oak Ridge TN. No small feat.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/361707117741162/
Excellent shooting!
DAve
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And Curtis shoots that rifle as good as it looks at this years LongrangeCreedmoor 150 last weekend in Oak Ridge.
CheersRichard
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And Curtis shoots that rifle as good as it looks at this years LongrangeCreedmoor 150 last weekend in Oak Ridge.
CheersRichard
Long distance! The next best thing to being there.Drink a toast to the memory of Whitworth,Henry and others who many years ago made it a bad idea to be seen in the open at 1000 yards.It was about 15 years ago I shot against BPCR shooters at 500 meters which was the longest range available then and one of them saw me reloading and said,"we will have to shoot at a closer range so you can have a chance of hitting anything".I told him not to worry and after 5 shots and 5 hits he was looking closer at my rifle.The targets were all knock downs and I used 80 grains of old DuPont 3fg and the 550 grain Ron Long* Lubed bullet. The combination of skills involved in your superb copy is beyond comprehension.I can make that lock (maybe) and the sights but the rest has never been done by me and never were.
Bob Roller
*Another fine craftsman no longer with us.
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Well, Wednesday night at the Creedmoor Cabin a toast or two were had.
Fleener
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Fabulous job, if it shoots half as good as it looks your in for a real treat.
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That is one beautiful gun! Beyond that statement, I'm speechless! Thanks for posting!
TC
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Really a wonderful job I love it!
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I already had ALL of the pictures in my folder labeled "Curtis' Rod England Henry Rifle.
It's beyond perfect. :o (for a bullet rifle)
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I bet Curtis had to wipe off the finger prints and slobber when he got the rifle home. The great thing is that it appears to be able to shoot.
Yellow House Jake also got his first award for good shooting!
Fleener
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Every thing about this rifle is wonderful. It is a treat just to view the pics.
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Man, that's a beautiful gun! Work like that is in a class all by itself.
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Thanks Yella Jake and Snapper! I got my butt handed to me the first day, after talking with some of the guys I changed some strategy for Saturday.... and it payed off. Thanks to all that helped me with my cleaning regimen etc. Did better on day 2. I enjoyed the shoot and this rifle can do much better than I can so far.
Curtis
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And Curtis shoots that rifle as good as it looks at this years LongrangeCreedmoor 150 last weekend in Oak Ridge.
CheersRichard
Thanks for the confidence! It was good to see some of your fine work in person, Richard!
Curtis
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Beautifully crafted! Is that a trigger stop I see?
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A magnificent rifle. "Well done" is hardly adequate! I am in awe of such talent.
J.B.
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Thank you for the nice compliment Curtis. The artist in you really shine in you beautiful engraving.
Best Richard
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Beautifully crafted! Is that a trigger stop I see?
Yes!
Curtis
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Thanks for all the kind words guys!
Also, I forgot to mention that Yellowhouse Jake shot very well at the match with his Alex Henry rifle (much better than I), and came away with a trophy as well!!
Curtis
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Curtis, did you get any or much distortion on the thin parts after case hardening?
Thanks Ricgard
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Curtis, did you get any or much distortion on the thin parts after case hardening?
Thanks Ricgard
Richard,
Fortunately, pretty much not at all. Everything went back in their mortises like they did before. The only thing I noticed was a very slight convex bow in the lockplate, less than half a millimeter... drawing it snug with the lock screw flattens it out and it fits and operates normally.
Curtis
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Thanks for all the kind words guys!
Also, I forgot to mention that Yellowhouse Jake shot very well at the match with his Alex Henry rifle (much better than I), and came away with a trophy as well!!
Curtis
Sadly, I did not shoot the Henry at Oak Ridge, yet. I used my hot rod Pedersoli Gibbs. Tebbs barrel breached by Lee Shaver and lock rebuilt by Bob Roller, sights by Mike Neuman. I hope to live long enough to do it justice on the range.
DAve
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My mistake DAve! I never got a good close look at your rifle, looked at it from about 10 feet away when I was scoring. Sounds like I need to take a closer look next time, sounds pretty customized! Great shooting regardless. ;)
Curtis
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Thanks Curtis. I think your idea of building a ‘sporting rifle’ around Rod’s A.Henry’s parts is a great idea. Rod and I talked about this a few months ago. It would build into a beautiful well handling rifle.
Cheers Richard
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I think your idea of building a ‘sporting rifle’ around Rod’s A.Henry’s parts is a great idea. Rod and I talked about this a few months ago.
Don Brown had a full sized print showing measurements for either a long range or sporting rifle from his parts. That didn't get transferred to Rod when he bought everything. I had one of them and was going to send it to Rod, but I have never been able to find it. I'll run across it one of thee days. A smaller illustration was included in the set of building instructions that Don supplied. I think I sent those to Rod. I have 2 barrels from the 1st run that Rod got from Rice Barrels. One is on my personal rifle and the other remains to be built.
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I think your idea of building a ‘sporting rifle’ around Rod’s A.Henry’s parts is a great idea. Rod and I talked about this a few months ago.
Don Brown had a full sized print showing measurements for either a long range or sporting rifle from his parts. That didn't get transferred to Rod when he bought everything. I had one of them and was going to send it to Rod, but I have never been able to find it. I'll run across it one of thee days. A smaller illustration was included in the set of building instructions that Don supplied. I think I sent those to Rod. I have 2 barrels from the 1st run that Rod got from Rice Barrels. One is on my personal rifle and the other remains to be built.
[/quote
Dave,
I have a pristine full size drawing of the Henry lock and grip section of the pistol grip and the stalking rifle and they ARE from Don Brown.
This can be mailed in flat format with no trouble at all.No charge for it.
Bob Roller
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Hi Bob, I’d like a copy of the lock and grip section if possible, I’d pass on a copy to Rod England too.
Cheers Richard
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If you are hunting with this rifle, where is the rod stored?
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If you are hunting with this rifle, where is the rod stored?
A less decorated version usually with an octagon barrel and barrel mounted sights and rib and thimbles on the bottom flat.
In other words,an upgraded Hawken and usually for a ball larger than 45 caliber or even a "Hawken"with a shotgun butt plate
Bob Roller
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For hunting with a target rifle you have to carry a range rod. The hunting models for a rifle like this is generally called a sporting rifle vs a target rifle. Difference is ram rod and you dont need the same peep sights on a sporting rifle.
You can shoot or compete long range with a rifle that is a sporting rifle as long as you have the right sights. Same basic rifle with a ram rod, assuming that it has a fast twist barrel as well.
Fleener
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I THINK I read an article in the now deceased Double Gun Journal by a man that hunted and killed a moose with a target model Whitworth and carried the rod.It was an unusual rifle because of the back action lock.I may still have that book but because they all looked alike it will take time to find it.That was a great publication but like so many other really good quality things,it passed from the scene.I still miss it
I did talk to someone involved with it who owned a Duesenberg car but did not know the "J"number which is odd because it's easy to see.
When I told him I owned a copy of the factory records and had all those numbers and can easily find it he seemed to get upset.
Bob Roller
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I thought the Whitworth versions all had steel rods?
The full stocked ones did.
Were there 1/2 stocked Whitworths?
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I thought the Whitworth versions all had steel rods?
The full stocked ones did.
Were there 1/2 stocked Whitworths?
Apparently at least ONE.It was a cased set.I know I am not the only one who bought the DGJ and maybe this article can be found.
My Whitworth was a Semi military and had a Henry barrel,4 pin Brazier lock with sliding safety in front of the hammer and Whitworth
Patent sights.The stock was fine walnut fill length and did have a steel rod and 2 barrel bands.A target rifle in work clothes and a good one.
The # is C760,
Bob Roller
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Sorry for the thread drift, Curtis. :-[
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That's a beauty of a rifle, and a fine fine job you did on it!
John
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I cannot help but think the original Alexander Henry folks would be proud to have their name on that rifle. Over the top beautiful in every way. Is it going into competition, or just for someone to enjoy sparingly? God Bless, Marc
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Sorry for the thread drift, Curtis. :-[
It's okay Daryl, it was a valid question!
If you are hunting with this rifle, where is the rod stored?
As Art mentioned, when hunting with a target rifle you must carry a rod separately. I have carried one with a string on it so I can sling it over my shoulder when walking, take the string off when sitting.
The best alternative is to build a stalking rifle, either in bullet or round-ball configuration. The stalking rifle is a sporting gun like Art mentioned, and has a ramrod under the barrel. Rod sells the stalking and hunting (sporting rifle) kits. I am thinking I need to order one of them and put it together!
Curtis
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Thanks, Curtis. I for some reason thought I saw it stated earlier in this thread that it was a sporting rifle and not knowing much about those tang peep sights didn't think about them only being used for targets. It didn't make sense to me that a hunting rifle wouldn't have a mount for the rod... Now I know ;D
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This should come back up for people to appreciate. How has it been shooting?
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How does anyone have the talent to do this?? Great work!!
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I am glad to see this thread revived.These rifles are not common and I was surprised when I was able to make and sell about 40 (maybe) of these locks and a few smaller ones for scaled down versions of this style of rifle.
Maybe 8 of these.
Bob Roller
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Man, that's a lesson in elegance. Beautiful gun.
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Ive been thinking ahead of a new project when my Martini project is completed - Beautiful rifle .
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Thanks for the nice comments guys! It was a fun challenge building and engraving the rifle for certain. :)
Justin - I haven't shot the rifle for a few months but with springtime ahead I plan on putting some more 530 gr. paper patched bullets downrange, as well as trying some 545gr grease groove bullets from a new (to me) mold. At the last Creedmoor 150 match (my first competition shoot) I placed 3rd with muzzle-loaders at 600yds. Also I managed to shoot one "X" in the 1000yd unsupported match.... Sadly, much like one Irishman in the original Creedmoor my "X" was shot on the wrong target!!! At 1000yds all that takes is moving the front site a fraction of an inch to the wrong target - and with my eyes an 8 looks a lot like a 0 at that distance!!! >:(
Anyway, the rifle shoots better than I do. I have the ability to shoot 300yds at my home range now and hope to get lots of practice at the yardage.
Curtis
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Breathtakingly beautiful rifle, Curtis.
So well done and appointed.