THE FINE CASED SCOTTISH .451 CALIBRE ALEXANDER HENRY PATENT PERCUSSION RIFLE FOR SPORTING AND TARGET USE MADE FOR LORD ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL (1846-1913)

THE FINE CASED SCOTTISH .451 CALIBRE ALEXANDER HENRY PATENT PERCUSSION RIFLE FOR SPORTING AND TARGET USE MADE FOR LORD ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL (1846-1913), BY ALEXANDER HENRY, 12 SOUTH ST. ANDREW ST., EDINBURGH, NO. 990 FOR 1863, with browned twist octagonal barrel signed in full along the top flat at the breech and rifled with seven grooves, engraved ~Patent No. 541 Gauge 451~ in front of the sprung back-sight bed, the forward portion of the barrel finely matted over its length to the fore-sight bed, the underside numbered and with the initials ~AH~ towards the breech, foliate scroll-engraved case-hardened breech numbered en suite and fitted with engraved platinum plug (nipple removed), foliate scroll-engraved case-hardened tang fitted with an additional screw-in bed for a peep-sight, foliate scroll-engraved case-hardened flush-fitting flat lock signed in gothic script, fitted with blued safety-catch and engraved case-hardened hammer en suite, stamped ~Joseph Brazier Ashes~, initialled ~JB~ and with some original burnish on the inside, highly figured walnut half-stock with chequered fore-end and pistol-grip, the former with horn cap and the latter with foliate scroll engraved case-hardened ovoid cap with hinged circular trap cover decorated with an expanded flower-head, the comb of the butt with leather pad embossed ~Henry~s patent Elevator no. 82~, foliate scroll engraved steel mounts comprising case-hardened hinged circular patch-box cover, butt-plate with traces of early blued finish, numbered trigger-guard, case-hardened trigger-plate with pineapple finial, and barrel bolt escutcheons, gold shield-shaped escutcheon engraved with owner~s crested arms and initials ~AC~, and retaining much of its original finish: in original oak case fitted and lined in pigskin (areas of staining, minor scuffs and tears, one compartment lid replaced), the interior of the lid with illustrated maker~s trade label (small tears and staining), the exterior with vacant shield-shaped brass escutcheon and brass key escutcheon, complete with some accessories including target sight in fitted case (lid and tabs restored), Vernier sight with silver calibrations to 3,000 yards, brass loading rod, nickel-mounted Alexander Henry patent black leather powder-flask with spring cut-off, brass bullet mould with blued spru-cutter, turned box, main-spring clamp, and leather pouch with cleaning jags, 93.3 cm barrel¦¦Lord Archibald Campbell (1846-1913) was the second son of the 8th Duke of Argyll and was educated at Edinburgh Academy, Eton and Goettingen. He served as Captain in the 5th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and then became a partner in Coutts and Co. bankers at 440 Strand, London. In later life he was a justice of the peace and Deputy-Lieutenant for Argyllshire. A keen antiquary his publications include Records of Argyll (1885), Notes on swords from Battlefield of Culloden (1894), Highland dress, arms, and ornament (1899), Armada canon (1899), and Reveries, poems (1902).¦¦The maker~s records for 1863 state ~no. 990 Best single rifle no. 541 patent elevator 82~.¦¦Alexander Henry (1828-94) served his apprenticeship with T. E. Mortimer of Edinburgh setting up his own business at 12 South Street in 1853. From the outset of his business he focussed on rifle manufacture and was responsible for a number of innovations which advanced rifle design. In 1860 he patented the famous heptagonal rifling that bears his name, It was adopted by the British Army for the Martini-Henry rifle of 1871. For a discussion of his percussion rifles see Dallas 2017, pp. 41-61.