Product Details
FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF H.H. THE MAHARAJ OF DHOLPUR
ALEX.r HENRY
A FINE .360 BLACK POWDER EXPRESS HENRY PATENT BACK-ACTION SIDELOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 6546,
26in. fine black powder only damascus barrels with raised matt rib, central section engraved 'ALEX.R HENRY. EDINBURGH AND LONDON. MAKER TO THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE OF WALES AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH', open sights with ivorine insert and folding leaf sight with silver inlay, bead foresight with flip-up moonsight, Henry patent rifling, traces of ring bulge in left tube, Henry patent action, carved fluted serpentine fences with feathered and cross-hatch engraving and marked 'HENRYS PATENT', 'No. 222', automatic safety with blue enamelled 'SAFE' detail, curved back-action locks with cocking-indicators and gold-inlaid 'COCKED' detail, fine acanthus scroll engraving with cross hatch and feathered borders, retaining some original colour-hardening and finish, 13 7/8in. highly-figured tiger stripe pistolgrip stock with two piece pistolgrip, engraved steel pistolgrip-cap (with trap), cheekpiece, sling swivels, replacement silver shield shaped escutcheon engraved with the Dholpur crest including 3/4in. rubber recoil pad (distressed), fore-end with grip-catch release lever
Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that the rifle was completed in 1902 as a 'best double barrelled .360' with 26in. barrels for 'DHALIWAL'.
Further investigation by the esteemed author, Donald Dallas, in the course of researching his new book on the definitive history of John Dickson & Son (authorised by the Company), has established that the rifle was sent out to Manton and Co., Calcutta (Agents) on behalf of the Maharaj of Dholpur. C.B.
H.H. Rana Nihal Singh, Maharaj of Dholpur was born in 1862 and began his rule on 9 February 1873, ruling over a 15-gun salute state of 1,156 square miles in Rajputana (Rajasthan), inhabited by 271,496 subjects. His mother was daughter of Maharaja Narender Singh of Patiala. An Honorary Major in the Central India Horse, he maintained a private army of 139 cavalry, 1588 infantry and 32 guns, and was actively involved in British operations on the North West Frontier in 1897-98. After his death, he was succeeded by his son, Rana Ram Singh at the tender age of 9 (born 1893) in 1902.
It is therefore a sad likelihood that H.H. Rana Nihal Singh never set eyes on the rifle, instead his young son being the beneficiary of his father's commission.
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Estimate £6,000-8,000