Author Topic: Alex Henry rifle hammer replacement (Read 1050 times)

snapper · « **on:** February 16, 2025, 10:04:00 PM »

Last fall I picked up this Alex Henry rifle. The hammer that was on it was not correct for an AH rifle.

The great thing is that my buddy Rod England makes and sells AH replica rifles, and I was able to purchase a correct styled hammer from him.

Got the hammer fitted and cleaned up then sent off for engraving. The hammer needed to be aged to match the patina on the lock and the rifle. I am happy with the outcome; the hammer looks like it should be there.

Note the adjustable leather covered check piece that is built into the stock. This is on a few of the AH rifles. The leather is also stamped with an AH patent number for the check piece.

Fleener

Bob Roller · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2025, 11:55:07 PM »

Nothing like a fine English lock with a Goulcher hammer

..I have a correct Henry hammer that I was going to use on a lock that never got made.Thanks for showing this fine rifle.
Bob Roller

Bob Roller · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2025, 12:02:17 AM »

Quote from: Bob Roller on February 16, 2025, 11:55:07 PM

Nothing like a fine English lock with a Goulcher hammer ..I have a correct Henry hammer that I was going to use on a lock that never got made.Thanks for showing this fine rifle.Can we see the inside of this lock?
Bob Roller

Seth Isaacson · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2025, 05:08:09 PM »

That looks great!

Jim Kibler · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2025, 02:13:51 AM »

That looks nice. Super work.

smoke and flames · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2025, 01:46:01 PM »

Very nicely done. Who did the engraving?

Clowdis · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2025, 04:26:36 PM »

The new hammer certainly snuffed that lock up. Very nice.

snapper · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2025, 04:46:29 PM »

Thanks

Tim Halloran in Blue Grass Iowa did the engraving. I have had him do some parts in the past and have been happy with him. He was not into old English, or should I say Scottish guns when I started with him, but he was worked hard to get the style down. He has a fast turnaround with less than a month for this hammer and the cost was around $275. Might seem odd to spend $300 buck on a hammer but a new hammer for this rifle was a must IMO.

http://halloranengraving.com/

I used several coats of etching acid followed by heat. The part went from a light yellow to black with heat. While the hammer was very hot, dipped it in ATF. Knocked down the color with oil and steel wool.

Fleener

snapper · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2025, 05:09:36 PM »

The front sight also has to go. It is a Redfield globe. I got a buddy that is going to make a new front sight for this rifle.

Originally this rifle would been a .45 cal. bullet rifle. It was re rifled by Bill Large to .475" and the rifling is not a fast twist anymore. I plan on just shooting round balls out of this rifle.

OldMtnMan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2025, 12:21:38 AM »

The hammer appearance works perfectly with the rifle’s design. The engraving work by Tim Halloran stands as remarkable since he masters traditional hand-engraving methods. Your decision to age the hammer through heat treatment with etching proved successful since the right patina requires such techniques. Round balls remain the shooting choice of preference because of the re-rifled barrel.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2025, 01:33:37 AM »

That hammer is a good looking one and I have made around 40 Henry locks with it in 3 and 4 screw versions and used one on my own long range rifle.
Bob Roller

snapper · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2025, 03:33:41 AM »

Bob

I have not been ignoring you on your request to see the other side of the lock. Not been home the past few days.

Fleener

Bob Roller · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2025, 04:35:15 PM »

Fleener,
I understand completely.I appreciate seeing these English rifles and those who own them being willing to post pictures fir the rest of us.
Bob Roller

snapper · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2025, 03:29:47 AM »

Here you go Bob, picture of the lock guts. It is not marked and it is very simliar to the Alex Henry rifle that I picked up a few weeks before this one.

This next lock is of the other rifle I picked up in September and have previsly shown.

Fleener

Bob Roller · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2025, 06:16:31 PM »

Fleener,THANK you for taking the time to pull these locks to show what a quality lock is .Probably Stanton or Brazier but if not marked or signed there were other lock filers capable of this class of work.The first one I made was a "4 pin"copy of a Brazier that I borrowed from Lynton McKenzie and all the parts I made other than the screws would interchange with the old lock.This was in 1987 and R.E.Davis gave me $250 for it.That was a LOT of money then for any gun lock no matter who made it.I made several "3 pin" Schuetzen locks for Helmut Mohr and he said that the three guns he used them for went out the door quickly.One of the last J&S Hawken locks I made has the "3 pin" parts and it went to a man in the USA.I think Bob Browner made the gun but didn't comment on the lock.The only thing that was different was the lower leg screw of the bridle was lower on the lock plate.
Thanks again.
Bob Roller
PS,I would bet a bit of money and say those locks were made by the same lock filer.These aren't hard to make but close attention must be used during the final detailing that sperates these from the common useful locks seen on a lot of guns then and now.

snapper · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2025, 07:05:49 PM »

Your welcome

art

Daryl · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2025, 03:14:04 AM »

What I really like about good English locks is the crispness of the clicks/snaps on cocking.
My John Blissett lock is VERY similar. It was on a flowler, and the fly is missing from the lock.

B.Barker · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2025, 06:27:28 PM »

I agree that hammer makes the rifle look so much better. Those half stock English rifles are good looking guns IMHO.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2025, 08:40:05 PM »

They are FINE looking and the makers apparently weren't big on taking short cuts.There IS a noticeable difference in the function of these locks as compared to the ones on other guns.The resistance on starting to cock one of these is noticeable but recedes as the hammer goes to fully cocked.I have no plans to make any more of these and have a small scale one partly done and if I do finish it I will offer it here and no other venues.I have a J&S Hawken lock that needs finished and it is a contrast to the little "4 pin" in design but will be equally useful in function.The detailing on the English locks eats up a lot of time but then,time will go by anyway.
Bob Roller

bama · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2025, 05:35:42 PM »

Nice work indeed and a deserving project. On another note, I had the chance to meet Tim once. He was a pleasure to talk to and a very knowledgeable and fantastic engraver.

snapper · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2025, 08:52:10 PM »

Yes, I agree, Tim is a really good at what he does, and I also like him as a person. I have had him do some small ML gun projects for me over the years and he is IMO reasonable priced and has a quick turnaround time.

Fleener

Pukka Bundook · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2025, 05:55:07 PM »

I only ever owned one Alex. Henry. had to sell it when we ran out of funds after coming to Canada.
Ran into it at a gunshow for 14 times more than I sold it for!
Won't attach pics as it was a top lever hammer gun.
Hammers were even engraved on the backs of the spurs.

Looks nice work, Fleener.

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Author Topic: Alex Henry rifle hammer replacement (Read 1050 times)