So my old friend, Ron Peterson of Albuquerque, shows up at the Colorado Show with not one, but two, Alexander Henry rifles a type I have long lusted after. One was a "Best" in  .577 that had been in the collection of some guy named Bill Ruger - ever wonder how he got the idea for those foreends?  With a pedigree like that it was out of my league. The other one was also a right side hammer one (the first ones had the hammer on the left side to make it faster to load for a right handed shooter - Alexander was looking for a military contract) and was very interesting in that, besides the barrel sights, it had an uncommonly seen long range tang sight. It was chambered in 500-450 #2 Musket which Westley Richards made a common match rifle cartridge. Apparently this cartridge was also popular among the Boers in South Africa, much to the regret of many British soldiers. Anyway, it was only a Second Quality (less engraving coverage and maybe not as nice wood). It's all relative;-) And this is what I have found out about it thanks to British Henry expert (and great, great, grandson) Richard Brown. It was purchased on 19 May, 1874 by a John Boyden and listed in the shop book as a "second quality single breech loading express and long range rifle". This kind of odd combination shows up in the sights: out on the barrel is a standing leaf marked 100, a flip up leaf marked 200 and a flip up ladder graduated from 300 to 800. For the long range part, the quick detachable tang sight is graduated from 100 yards to 1000 yards. You can't really shoot the barrel sights with the tang folded without eating it on recoil, hence the quick detachable (I actually have the pin slid in from the "wrong" side in the pic).and the tang sight does not work well with the front sight. Ah, the unusual front sight (see the pic). A tiny little uncontoured dovetailed tightly in block with a miniscule dovetailned in bead. What? Oh yes, there is a hole through the block. Somewhere in its 147 year history, the quick detachable long range windgauge front sight, which dropped over the block and was pinned in place, has departed. Meanwhile, back at the 30.5 inch barrel, the 18 twist rifling is Henry (of course!) and in perfect condition. It has been well taken care of. The sliding safety holds the hammer at half cock (which it has to be at to drop the block). The firing pin is spring loaded. The extractor is at 3 and 9 o'clock. The grip cap is horn. Here's some pics.

That’s just super neat! Beautiful old rifle. I have followed Richard Brown’s facebook group on Alexander Henry and admire the photos of them. You’re a lucky , albeit a little poorer guy, but worth it!  Congratulations on a fine rifle!

Nice rifle. I have a Deeley & Edge that was chambered in the same caliber.  I could easily get 95 grains of black powder in the case just to get it above the neck. The Westley Richards barrel has Metford rifling.  That rifle weighed 8 1/2 pounds and when you touched it off, it would certainly make you take notice. I see you have some cases formed in another thread.  Are you going to paper patch or shoot greasers in it? The original loading consisted of a card wad followed by two oiled felt wads followed by another card wad and then the patched bullet.  I'll be interested to hear what your load consists of when you're finished.

Beautiful rifle. The English seem to do a nicer job on the details than the U.S.
Could list several examples just from the pictures.
Not sure it is any better but it sure is pretty.
Chuck

Great rifles, and still function, have one in 450-400 that shoots in an inch, used it for a wood buffalo.
Have a sealer's gun marked WxJ on stock and barrel, so that's the ship it belonged to, but no further details. As with other sealers I've seen, it's a bit rough from the salt water and abuse.
Others I have are all .45's X 3 1/4.
One is marked "Roberts, Perth, Scotland", so maybe Henry sold a few actions to the trade.

Congratulations!!

About 20 years ago I got one of Steve Earle's Wesson #1 LR actions built into a 450-400-3 1/4.  That is such a great action, I'd love to have another one.  It sat on my computer desk, and I would just fondle it the first year or so I had it.

Rich

Henry did license out construction of 2500 military rifles for New Zealand to Westley Richards but sold actions to many other builders such as Purdey and Bland for custom rifles. I believe that at the time all guns sold in Britain had to be proofed at Birmingham or London proof house.

Two beautiful Alexander Henry’s in one thread, hard to get much better than this. The Brits made some exquisite guns and still do. Perhaps about a hundred years ago or more most British guns were made for the titled where most American guns were made for utilitarian purposes and putting food on the table. Whatever was the purposes behind them, I’m glad we have them all!