Alexander Henry Lock Specs

[Bison]

I'm searching for a book or a print that has a good example and specifications of an Alexander Henry percussion lock. Anyone have some sources that I can look into?

[Bob Roller]

The Alex Henry locks were as far as I know made by either Brazier or Stanton and other than a slight variance in internal parts,they were a shotgun lock.I have made and sold about 40 in full size and maybe 8 or 9 in scaled down style.i had a fine Brazier loaned to me by the late Lynton McKenzie.Rod England is on this forum and he has completed locks for these guns.The three and 4 screw bridles add a noticeable rigidity to these locks and it's evident when cycling on from all the way lowered to fully cocked when on the gun or held in the hands.
The care used in fitting the tumbler and bridle plus the springs will determine the over all quality of these locks.Do you plan to make them or only one for a special project?
Bob Roller

[Bison]

I am wanting to build several for my own use. Depending on how that goes will determine if I continue. I have some experience with gunlocks and have full access to a machine shop along with partial access to a precision machine shop here locally. I wasn't satisfied with the L&R English locks that I have.

[Justin Urbantas]

Curtis can probably chime in about what lock he used for his AH build.  He got parts from Rod England I believe.

[Curtis]

I helped Rolf with some lock part dimensions in his efforts to manufacture an Alexander Henry lock: https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=73225.msg730037#msg730037

There are several posts that follow this one.  Rolf did an outstanding job of creating the locks!


Curtis

[Curtis]

I forgot to add - as Justin mentioned, I used Rod England's Alex Henry lock on my build and some I made for others. I must say that Rod's quality of products continues to improve each time I see them, even better than when I built my rifle. Rod's contact info... His email is rengland451@gmail.com and phone number is 864-590-6718. The best time to call is between 7-9pm eastern time.

Curtis

[T*O*F]

I wasn't satisfied with the L&R English locks that I have.

What kind of guns were you building that used the L&R locks?  The Davis Alex Henry lock is usually the go-to lock for English guns, especially after they incorporated the changes that Bob recommended.

[Bob Roller]

R.E.Davis himself bought the first "4 pin" lock I made in 1997 and paid $250 for it.I told him I wanted to show it to others and he said,"Show it all you want but be sure I get it back" and that is what happened. I hope he did get some use of it and I know that those parts would fit in the fine original lock I borrowed from Lynton McKenzie,only the screws were different threads.I used the 4x48 and they were the right diameter.As a bench crafted lock,they require some skill but take your time if you want to make one.I hope someone will copy these fine locks down to the smallest detail.Utility grade work is fine and we can all benefit from it by doing it but once in a while,something that's a
bit beyond useful is wanted and when it came to locks for guns,the English set standards that were high and I am glad they did.
Bob Roller

[flatsguide]

Rod England’s lock are the best. What Curtis wrote is spot on.
Cheers Richard

[Bob Roller]

I am glad that there is at least ONE maker of these Henry style locks.I made that style and a few with the Rigby styled plate which is a fancy one.I have a picture in a Double Gun Journal that shows a "5 pin"bridle bit it's in a rebounding* lock for a breech loader and may not he able to accommodate the rotation of a percussion hammer..My Henry locks all use a cast hammer and some have a cast lock plate.The Henry hammer is one of the nest looking ones I have ever seen.I am glad Rod England is continuing the work started by Don Brown whose widow was able to sell it.I made 3 more "4 pin"locks for her so she would not have to refund the order to a buyer in Sweden.The 3 pin mechanism was/is ideal for the Schuetzen locks and I used L&R plates and hammers to make them.Maybe 35 of these went to the shop if the now deceased Helmut Mohr.The bridle in these locks is to me the focus point and the contours and area around the screws makes or breaks the appearance when the lock is off the gun.I have thought about making a few more of these 4 pin locks and have a pistol size one about 1/2 finished and may finish it when the weather gets warm again.
* A rebounding hammer is seen on high end double barreled guns and the hammer goes forward and hits a firing pin and then moves back away from the firing pin.This is done by mechanical design that uses the mainspring to push the hammer back.It is not used on muzzle loaders

Bob Roller

[Bison]

I wasn't satisfied with the L&R English locks that I have.

What kind of guns were you building that used the L&R locks?  The Davis Alex Henry lock is usually the go-to lock for English guns, especially after they incorporated the changes that Bob recommended.

I picked up someone project that they barely started. Has a L&R lock. I have the same lock from another project that I didn't use it on.

[Bison]

I've got another barrel and furniture for an Alexander Henry target rifle that I wish to build. Gonna take my time on that one. I have a piece of English walnut that I need to pick up next week. I hope to build my own lock for that rifle. Have 3 rifle projects that need to be finished first.

[Bryndon Steele]

I have what’s left of Alexander Henry #451 percussion rifle. I say “what’s left” because it has been made into a pistol! The good news is it has most of the important parts, grip cap, trigger guard, lock (original hammer missing, I bought a new cast hammer) the barrel is about 10” long and saves the name and address and the barrel wedge.

I’ve got too much stuff like this around and would like to sell it if you have interest.

PM your contact info and I’ll text or email pictures.

Thanks,
Bryndon

[Bison]

PM sent.

[T*O*F]

I picked up someone project that they barely started. Has a L&R lock. I have the same lock from another project that I didn't use it on.

That isn't an Alex Henry......it's one of Pecatonica's Rigby kits.  I have a guy coming over in a bit, but will try to post some pics of Henry stuff later.

[Bison]

I picked up someone project that they barely started. Has a L&R lock. I have the same lock from another project that I didn't use it on.

That isn't an Alex Henry......it's one of Pecatonica's Rigby kits.  I have a guy coming over in a bit, but will try to post some pics of Henry stuff later.

That's right. It came with the L&R English lock. I want more of a lock like the Alexander Henry rifles have for it. Also wanting to replicate the AH lock for some other projects.

[Bob Roller]

The bridle is the focal point of these 3 and 4 "pin"locks and I have no idea how they were made in the 19th century but in my shop the milling machine and being able to make hollow mills is a big help.The "pins go thru posts and they are formed with hollow mills after location has been determined.I used an original Rigby lock for a pattern I was sure would work.These bridles are 3/8" thick and I make them from 3/8x1 low carbon flat ground steel.I have another high carbon made to the same dimension with the holes that establish the screw spacing and drilled with a #44 drill and hardened. The piece that will be the bridle will be drilled all the way thru with the #44 drill and then the hole for the small bearing hole for the tumbler is drilled and REAMED to the finished dimension.I use a .140 reamer and threading fluid  to help assure an accurate hole.The screw holes are the drilled with the #44 drill and then a counter bore with a #44 .086 pilot and a 5/32 cutter is used for the screw head to seat into.I counter bored that one about 1/8"deep and then bored the areas for the screw shanks to .112 for a .110 screw (#4x40 or 48).The threaded length is determined by the thickness of the lock plate and the depth of the counter boring to seat the screw into the bridle.The shape or appearance of the bridle is done by making hardened filing guides from drill rod either water or oil hardening .203/,204 diameter that work like a nut and bolt when contouring the area around the screw heads is done..The fine details of these locks far surpass the common lock seen on Hawken locks and most others.Once the "3 and 4 pin"bridle is finished the rest of the lock is an upgrade on the common cap lock..Tumblers are 1144 and sears and "flys"are 0-1.
Bob Roller

[T*O*F]

I made this one using the hardware from Pecatonica's Rigby


I built this one from Don Brown and Rod England conponents.  I made the damascus lock using Davis internals.

This is one of Bob Roller's Alex Henry locks that he used to make.  The Davis Alex Henry lock is almost identical, but not hand crafted.




These are bullet guns, not roundball.  If you are interested in building an Alex Henry, I have one that is about 50% finished with the same components as the damascus gun, but has a Roller lock. PM me if interested.

[Bob Roller]

For those not familiar with my ideas of lock making,this one is my standard of quality when I was active in the shop.
It also shows my opinion of whoever bought it new.
Bob Roller

[Bison]

These are bullet guns, not roundball.  If you are interested in building an Alex Henry, I have one that is about 50% finished with the same components as the damascus gun, but has a Roller lock. PM me if interested.

Yes, I am interested. I sent you a PM.

[flatsguide]

TOF, can you show a closeup photo of Bob’s lock internals but in sharp focus? It is this photo that you posted.
Thanks Richard

[Walt S]

  T. O. F.   If someone wanted to use the Davis Alexader Henry lock, does anyone make a breech plug for that lock. Does the breech plug
 Rod England and Rice make, fit the Davis lock. One would think that Davis would make a breech plug for their lock. As we all know years ago there were a lot more parts on the market.

Ws

[T*O*F]

TOF, can you show a closeup photo of Bob’s lock internals but in sharp focus?

Richard, I'll try.  My camera sucks for these types of pics and it's hard to get a good focus.  I may have a better one in my archives.

[Bison]

  T. O. F.   If someone wanted to use the Davis Alexader Henry lock, does anyone make a breech plug for that lock. Does the breech plug
 Rod England and Rice make, fit the Davis lock. One would think that Davis would make a breech plug for their lock. As we all know years ago there were a lot more parts on the market.

Ws

I think The Gun Works Muzzleloading Emporium  English Breech Plug & Tang would work. They use the Davis Henry lock for what they call "Alexander Henry Target/Sporting Rifle". I would assume they would use the English Breech Pug and Tang that they sell on their online store.

[Bob Roller]

My Henry locks were made to work with a Don Brown breech and I have one I used as a gauge.I think Rod England may also use this breech.The mechanism shown here was also used in a Schuetzen lock for Helmut Mohr in Germany.His father called them "Old style finished German art".Since 2019 I have made only a few triggers and no locks.There is no shortage of locks or triggers that I'm aware of and I doubt if I will restart because of my wife being alone in the house and she leaves her phone in the front room and I am bothered wit a lower back stenosis.She fell in the laundry room recently and I had to call 911 and get help to get her up.
   If I had no milling machine these locks would not have been made by me and the bridle is the thing.The Tumblers have a slightly higher level of detailing and the sear is relieved on the side close to the plate.Springs were not hard to make and over the years I used about 100 pounds of 1075 for main and sear springs.
    Enjoy the coming spring and summer and we hope to.
Bob Roller