Alex Henry barrel

[snapper]

Has anyone seen markings like this?   The numbers are not the serial number for the rifle.

I dont have the rifle.   I have an opinion, but right now it is just an educated guess.

thanks

Fleener

[JTR]

I can't post pics either...
John

[snapper]

Well, I still can't post a picture.  However, the muzzle has 4 J's stamped around the barrel and a number. 

It is obvious that the barrel has been re rifled.  I am assuming that the 4 J's are the mark of the person doing the re rifling and that the number is the new dia.

Any thoughts on this?   Or who used the 4 J's as their mark?

Thanks

Fleener

[gibster]

Didn't Bill Large use 4 J's? I think it was for the first initials of his daughters. At least that is what I have been told. No idea if that is true or not.

[mountainman70]

Good morning
Im surprised Bob Roller hasnt sponded.
To me it has UncleBill Large all over it
Im more certain the numbers are month and year he did the work.
Bill  generaly put his daughters initials on his work
Lets see if Bob rarres up and confirms
Best regards
Dave F

[Bob Roller]

Good morning
Im surprised Bob Roller hasnt sponded.
To me it has UncleBill Large all over it
Im more certain the numbers are month and year he did the work.
Bill  generaly put his daughters initials on his work
Lets see if Bob rarres up and confirms
Best regards
Dave F

I just NOW saw this and the 4 "J's"were his daughters initials.I will say that at some point in time  Bill Large had that barrel and recut the rifling because of corrosion from caps and poor cleaning.He had a 10 groove N.G.Whitmore barrel to recut and I tried to get him to copy it because of the reports of Major Ned Roberts saying these barrels were unfair competition.I hope this helps.Have you tried a .451 bullet in the muzzle.Those numbers may indicate a bigger bore.Does it have a breech plug?
Bob Roller

[snapper]

Thanks for the replies.

I was wondering if Bill Large was the one that recut the rifling.   I knew he used his daughter's J's some of the time as his mark.   I have never seen it on the muzzle.

Interesting thought about the numbers being the month and the year.  Bob, what do you think about that?  It makes sense.

I am told that the muzzle measures .490, but I have no idea how accurate that is.

BOB:  This was .451 fast twist bullet barrel.  Do you think that Bill would of re cut the rifling to a fast twist?  Or slow for round balls?  I know it is just speculation.   I can't get the owner to measure the rate of twist.

Thanks for the help

Fleener

[Bob Roller]

Fleener,
Will the owner allow you to run a patch and rod down and it will give an idea as  to ball or bullet.I would think Bill would recut that barrel by using the original rifling as a guide like a common muzzle loader.A dial caliper can give a rough idea as to the bore diameter.I use telescoping gauges or expandable small hole gauges but few hobbyists have these tools..you may be right,The numbers may be a date.This type of barrel was very rare in Bill's shop and many who see them today have no idea what they were when new.
Bob Roller

[Tanselman]

For those of you interested in fine Alexander Henry rifles, you should check out the cased Henry rifle coming up at Rock Island Auction down in Bedford, TX.  https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4093/3297/cased-alexander-henry-halfstock-percussion-rifle.

Shelby Gallien