Absolutely incredible!
Another 5 stars from me.
Another 5 stars from me.
Double Rifles - a True Addiction
- Thread starter CptCurl
- Start date
MDGasman
Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 161
- Reaction score
- 31
Hmmm...no Picatinny rail, no extra shell holder on the stock, no breacher, I don't know guys.
Seriously, absolutely gorgeous! The wood itself, the checkering, the engraving, the true grace of pieces created by craftsmen. Thank you so much for sharing.
Care to trade for an Iver Johnson Champion?
Seriously, absolutely gorgeous! The wood itself, the checkering, the engraving, the true grace of pieces created by craftsmen. Thank you so much for sharing.
Care to trade for an Iver Johnson Champion?
Cooter Brown
Member
Thanks, Curl. I didn't notice the letter from Purdey in the post.
I loaned my copy of "Best Guns" to buddy--this thread reminds me I need to get it back. I miss MM and his writing.
Outstanding thread.
fat tom
Absent Comrade
WOW! What else is there to say? Well,maybe that I used the "like" button more than in any other thread. 
f.t.
f.t.
BuckeyeChuck
Member
CptCurl, one letter from Purdey says that they cannot give you a copy of the record as the books are too heavy and too fragile to photocopy. Can they not send you a digital photograph?
Now that I've got kids, I find myself taking a lot of photographs (and the amount of video I shoot gets larger and larger). I have determined that taking pictures of the handouts/bulletins/signs at major events is perhaps the best way to preserve a record of something. For example, this past week my middle son "graduated" from preschool. (If you're rolling your eyes, so was I. For 45 minutes.) I took photos and video, but I took photos of the program as well. You feel funny taking pictures of something printed (and that you're probably holding) but long after you've discarded the printed material, you still have the photograph.
Now that I've got kids, I find myself taking a lot of photographs (and the amount of video I shoot gets larger and larger). I have determined that taking pictures of the handouts/bulletins/signs at major events is perhaps the best way to preserve a record of something. For example, this past week my middle son "graduated" from preschool. (If you're rolling your eyes, so was I. For 45 minutes.) I took photos and video, but I took photos of the program as well. You feel funny taking pictures of something printed (and that you're probably holding) but long after you've discarded the printed material, you still have the photograph.
Well, this thread makes my S&W obsession look a little anemic! I can imagine what the little woman would say if these started following me home! Fantastic thread Cap, and as others have said, thank you for sharing these extraordinary firearms!
teesur
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Absolutely stunning!
Thank you Sir, very very much.
teesur.
Thank you Sir, very very much.
teesur.
OP
CptCurl
Member
I am always amazed with the beautiful workmanship that goes into the components of these rifles.
Last December a good friend was making the purchase of an Alexander Henry .450 BPE hammer double rifle very similar to the one I have featured above, except that it was made much plainer. It has almost no engraving, the wood is much plainer, but otherwise it's the same gun as my hammer .450. My friend asked me to accept delivery of the rifle and inspect it for him during the inspection period. I was glad to do that.
One essential inspection is to remove the locks to inspect for damage, corrosion, vandalism, etc. to the locks. It also gives a good opportunity to inspect the head of the stock for cracks. I popped off the locks of this relatively plain Henry and photographed what I saw. Here is one of my shots:
Notice the metal of the forend. It is plain as can be - only a little border engraving. But look at the beauty of the locks. Nothing was compromised in the mechanicals. The locks were perfectly inletted into the stock and remain like new some 130 years later. Likewise, the head of the stock was sound and free of oil intrusion or other damage.
You have to love these things. My friend is delighted with his very nice Henry .450 BPE. And boy, does it shoot well!
Last December a good friend was making the purchase of an Alexander Henry .450 BPE hammer double rifle very similar to the one I have featured above, except that it was made much plainer. It has almost no engraving, the wood is much plainer, but otherwise it's the same gun as my hammer .450. My friend asked me to accept delivery of the rifle and inspect it for him during the inspection period. I was glad to do that.
One essential inspection is to remove the locks to inspect for damage, corrosion, vandalism, etc. to the locks. It also gives a good opportunity to inspect the head of the stock for cracks. I popped off the locks of this relatively plain Henry and photographed what I saw. Here is one of my shots:
Notice the metal of the forend. It is plain as can be - only a little border engraving. But look at the beauty of the locks. Nothing was compromised in the mechanicals. The locks were perfectly inletted into the stock and remain like new some 130 years later. Likewise, the head of the stock was sound and free of oil intrusion or other damage.
You have to love these things. My friend is delighted with his very nice Henry .450 BPE. And boy, does it shoot well!
OP
CptCurl
Member
I really appreciate the interest that has been shown here for these fantastic rifles. I was very hesitant about posting this thread. I started to do it several times and backed off. Then yesterday evening I let it fly, but got in trouble right away. I went the easy route with an external link. All this stuff is posted elsewhere.
I was asked to edit out the link and post the photos here. That takes right much work, but I was committed at that point. So this morning I spent a couple hours here working in earnest. All the while I was thinking I'm stupid to put this on the S&W forum. Oh well, gun nuts are versatile!
It all started on the "#15" thread (cross-referenced in my first post above) and arose from a discussion of English proofing. My .44 Triple Lock bears Birmingham commercial proofs, so I went into some detail about what the proof marks imply. The question arose as to how I have some familiarity with English proofing, and the answer was, "English double rifles!" With that answer I slipped in the first photo above (the five antique rifles on my hassock). As they say, "One thing leads to another." So here we are.
There's one more secret I'll tell. Since the day I first posted the five rifles on the "#15" thread, the five have become six.
On sight I will buy a cold beer for the first person on this forum who can correctly identify the newcomer. That should not be difficult.
I was asked to edit out the link and post the photos here. That takes right much work, but I was committed at that point. So this morning I spent a couple hours here working in earnest. All the while I was thinking I'm stupid to put this on the S&W forum. Oh well, gun nuts are versatile!
It all started on the "#15" thread (cross-referenced in my first post above) and arose from a discussion of English proofing. My .44 Triple Lock bears Birmingham commercial proofs, so I went into some detail about what the proof marks imply. The question arose as to how I have some familiarity with English proofing, and the answer was, "English double rifles!" With that answer I slipped in the first photo above (the five antique rifles on my hassock). As they say, "One thing leads to another." So here we are.
There's one more secret I'll tell. Since the day I first posted the five rifles on the "#15" thread, the five have become six.
On sight I will buy a cold beer for the first person on this forum who can correctly identify the newcomer.
That should not be difficult.41RF
Member
Beautiful, just beautiful. I've only held a Lang? double rifle that had been reblued. Even that was a lovely thing. Yours are works of art! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Cooter Brown
Member
Methinks you added a Purdey to the family...
As the kids say, I am diggin' this thread!!!
As the kids say, I am diggin' this thread!!!
Last edited:
Cooter Brown
Member
Look at those case colors!!!
True firearms art is what it is. A lost art at that.
What a fantastic collection you have there Sir. Thank you for sharing.
I have always been amazed at those fine rifles but obviously must admire them from a distance.
What a fantastic collection you have there Sir. Thank you for sharing.
I have always been amazed at those fine rifles but obviously must admire them from a distance.
OP
CptCurl
Member
Which rifle in the photo of six? You have to identify a specific rifle.
semperfi71
US Veteran
Incredible anecdotes, pictures, and descriptions. I would think there is a trove of information here for anyone who likes high-end double rifles.
It must have required great care to ship them to Africa or Asia back in the day and maintain them in pristine condition. They didn't have "wonder-lubes" and such back then.
Thanks for the terrific thread.
It must have required great care to ship them to Africa or Asia back in the day and maintain them in pristine condition. They didn't have "wonder-lubes" and such back then.
Thanks for the terrific thread.
Ray
Member
Dear Mr. Curl reading your posts about those fantastic rifles and particulary "The Automatic" in cal. 450/400, it came to my mind that Jim Corbett mentioned he used a rifle in that caliber to bring down several man eatin tigers in India around 1930 or so.Do you have any information regarding which rifle he used?
And congratulations on your great collection of double rifles, regards, Ray.
And congratulations on your great collection of double rifles, regards, Ray.
Cooter Brown
Member
Second from the top...
OP
CptCurl
Member
Cooter, I owe you a cold beer!
Yes, it's another Purdey .500 3" BPE, a few years older than the one I already had. It's a best quality rifle in excellent condition. I have done no photography on this rifle, but I have shot it. It is a great shooter and a beauty to behold. Here's one of the photos supplied by the seller:
And the result of the first four times I pulled its triggers. Two rights and two lefts.
Yes, it's another Purdey .500 3" BPE, a few years older than the one I already had. It's a best quality rifle in excellent condition. I have done no photography on this rifle, but I have shot it. It is a great shooter and a beauty to behold. Here's one of the photos supplied by the seller:
And the result of the first four times I pulled its triggers. Two rights and two lefts.
OP
CptCurl
Member
wbraswell,
You are the one who got me into this fine mess, and there you go again!
Have a look:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge...450-400-3-25-nitro-express.html#post136535036
Cooter Brown
Member
Nothin' to it.
It's gotta be a lot of fun to shoot those old boomers--if you ever video a range session, please let us know if you post it on Youtube.
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