Beschreibung:

A Scottish 55-Bore Percussion Sporting Rifle By Alexr. Henry, 12 South St. Andrew St., Edinburgh, No. 1085, Circa 1864With rebrowned octagonal barrel of decorative twist pattern originally signed in full along the top flat at the breech and rifled with six spiral grooves, engraved 'Patent No. 609' in front of the replacement folding-leaf back-sight, and matted beyond to the hooded fore-sight, recessed breech with platinum plug and engraved with foliate scrollwork on the top flat, foliate scroll engraved tang, border engraved flat detented lock and dolphin hammer decorated en suite, the former signed in gothic script and with engraved safety-catch, figured half-stock with chequered pistol-grip and fore-end (the latter broken through and repaired in front of the lock) each with dark horn cap, foliate scroll engraved mounts and circular hinged patch-box cover, the former comprising butt-plate and serial numbered trigger-guard, trigger-plate with pineapple finial, vacant silver escutcheon, chequered trigger, sling mounts, and brass-mounted ramrod, London proof marks 69.5 cm. barrelFootnotesAlexander Henry was born in 1828, and served his apprenticeship with T.E. Mortimer of Edinburgh, rising to become foreman of the factory before setting up in business on his own in 1853 at 12 South Street. He was a prolific inventor, with most of his innovations concerning the advancement of rifle design. His heptagonal rifling, patented in 1860, was used by the British Army for the Martini-Henry, and his falling-block design was adopted by several other countries. He continued to invent and was granted various patents throughout the 1870's, and eventually died in 1894. The business continued until 1902 when Alexander Martin succeeded to the business