doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com One of the 3 I won at Holt's yesterday.

One of the 3 I won at Holt's yesterday.
A .500/.450 (No.1 EXPRESS) SWINBURN FALLING-BLOCK RIFLE RETAILED BY ARMY & NAVY CSL. LONDON, serial no. 3983,
circa 1895, with round 28in. Henry rifled barrel, raised machine engraved top-rib with shallow ramp fore-sight and standing notch rear-sight with two further folding leaves, the left side near breech marked 'HENRY'S PATENT', slab-sided receiver marked 'SWINBURN'S PATENT' within a field of scrolls on the left side and further scroll engraving along with a large cocking-lever on the right, dropping feed-ramp, chequered walnut pistol-grip butt-stock (hairline cracks at head), iron heel-plate, the finger lever flush fitting to the front of the grip and looping under the base, chequered walnut splinter fore-end and fitted with a possible period leather sling

Very nice and not often seen! You'll have to tell us when you receive it how easily (or not) that long 500-450 No 1 Exp cartridge slips into the chamber. With a simple duplex load and a Gould HP bullet I got nearly 1900 fps in the 1881 Deeley-Edge I had in that cartridge.

I'm not particularly a Martini fan but that rifle would be a definite exception. That is the first time I've seen that treatment for the operating lever.

HalfaDouble do you still no the load and bullet weight? This cartridge will be a new one for me. I've done the #2 but not the #1.

PM sent.

That's a real beauty! Great purchase!