Product Details
ALEXr. HENRY
A 28-BORE (SMOOTHBORED) SINGLE-BARRELLED FALLING-BLOCK HAMMER SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 3420,
28in. nitro reproved barrel (smoothbored from a .450 black powder express rifle calibre), engraved 'ALEXr HENRY 12 SOUTH ST. ANDREW ST. EDINBURGH. PATENT NO. 2343', block mounted open sights with folding leaf sight, block mounted bead fore-sight, 2 1/2in. chamber, breech marked with action number 1080, best quality right side cranked back-action lock with front bolted dolphin hammer, fine scroll engraving, retaining very slight traces of original finish, fore-end with fluted tip, cross key grip with best quality key seat, 14 1/2in. well-figured pistolgrip stock with horn pistolgrip-cap and chequered steel buttplate, weight 6lb. 7oz.
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this rifle was completed as a 'best quality' .450 with a 28in. barrel for Lord Kilmarnock.
The gentleman referred to in the records is almost certainly Charles Hay, 20th Earl of Errol, 3rd Baron Kilmarnock. He was born February 1862 and enjoyed a successful army career with the Royal Horse Guards. He succeeded his father in the Earldom in 1891 and served in Arthur Balfour's Conservative administration as a Lord-in-Waiting (a whip to the Upper House) from 1903 to 1905.
Estimate £1,200-1,600
S2