Recently somebody posted a thread about hunting with old guns. For the past 10 years or more, practically all my hunting has been with antique guns. That thread reminded me of how much I enjoy walking through the woods with a piece of history. The last five white tail deer I have taken were all taken with iron sighted double rifles.

Here are two antique rifles I do hunt with. The larger is a .577 2-3/4" BPE. The smaller is a .450 3-1/4" BPE. These rifles represent the epitome of gunmaking skill. Henry was the foremost rifle maker of the period 1870-1895, in my opinion.

These have wonderful back action rebounding hammer locks, Damascus barrels, and stunning wood. What more is there to want? Both are very accurate. I have taken local white tail deer with both rifles.

These are photos I posted some years ago on NitroExpress. I thought they might be enjoyed here also. They were just impromptu shots in my living room one evening. Not studio quality at all.





























Finally, a shot of me holding the .450.

Hunt squirrels with those?

Having never fired a hammer double, how do you carry them? Hammer down, cocking when raising to fire, then cocking the other hammer if needed? Of course I cannot imagine needing a second shot for deer withneither ofnthose calibers.

Forgot very nice rifles!

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Jim

I know from shooting old hammer-double shotguns that you don't want to cock both hammers at once!...Might go BOOMBOOM at the first shot...

Gorgeous rifles, with lovely engraving and beautifully finished wood. The first word that comes to mind when seeing them is "graceful". Thanks for showing those.

These hammer double rifles should be carried with the hammers down. They are rebounding locks, so when the hammers are in the down position they are on the safety notch and off the firing pins. For added security these locks have separate safety bolts on each hammer, which I consider optional.

Yes I do cock both hammers when ready for action. Rest assured these English locks are so precise the recoil of a first shot will not let the second hammer loose. Even when firing at the range I cock both hammers. Never has a double discharge resulted.

Way beyond Cool Thanks for sharing..

WOW....a .577 for white tails?

Virginia must grow em big!

Thanks for sharing those awesome photos.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I have a W. Richards in 450 3 1/4 N.E. on the same action. A prievious owner used 3 1/4 brass, 120 grains of Goex FFFg, and a Hornady 350 grain jacked soft point for eastern mountain deer. He told me that load shot dead on with the 100 yard sight. he said he took 4 very nice bucks in the 1970's. In Eourpe, the 450 3 1/4 BPE was considered a Red Stag gun, so this load makes sense, just a pound or so heaver gun. By the way, mine has 26 inch steel barrels with Metford rifling. Ivan

Absolutely beautiful rifles. They'll never be in my price range but I do love looking at them. Thanks for posting.

Great guns as usual from you Curl. What do those artworks weigh? Quite a bit more than a modern featherweight with a polymer stock, I'd bet. We need a pic of the cloud that one of those puts out when fired.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

WOW.........!! Those are sweet.

Guns from that period are often the peak of craftsmanship ......

I have a 1885 Winchester low wall that dates to 1887.... which I would love to be able to hunt deer with...... but LOL; it's chambered in .22 short !

Looks like fixed sights........ what kind of range (if any) for deer do you restrict yourself to...?

How do the 2 barrels regulate for POI to the POA?

Are the barrels "browned" and the action all case-hardened?

Any pictures of the loaded rounds ......... assume you are shooting....what soft lead flat points?

Very nice pair.

I used to hunt with my Westley Richards shotgun. It did feel right. Ties one to a different time.

If those aren't the pride of your collection, I'd like to see what is! Those are awesome! I can only imagine what it would be like to be holding that .577, facing a ticked off elephant.

Too bad I can only push like once! Henry's are as good or better than the bigger names. Well done and enjoy them.

Those are amazing rifles Cap. In my mind, the .450 is the perfect rifle.

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Even older, even crankier....

LOVE that .450

I love those old BPE doubles. I own a couple of Wm. Evans boxlock NE doubles - 400/360 and a 450/400 3 1/4" . Also a really nice Westley Richards .303 takedown single shot. Beautiful firearms, but I think the older ones such as yours are even finer.

Thanks for starting the excellent thread !

450/400NE

Thanks for sharing!

Double cool. Never owned a double rifle. Thanks for posting.

Very Beautiful Rifles!

I have always felt that double rifles are the most elegant long
arms ever made.

Nearest I may ever get is a long barreled .410 double with exposed hammers……...

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I had a teenage friend who had a SXS .410. It was a very handy gun. For 50 years now, if have thought that such a gun in .45 Colt or .44 Magnum would make a GREAT short range deer rifle.