Yes, gentlemen, thanks for knocking the sense back into my head. I'm going to load and shoot with other's cast bullets and do all the slugging and work when the cold New England days are upon us. Sounds perfect, No? And Mr Davidson, you keep on amazing me with your ownership of the guns of royalty!Man o man, next thing you know I'll be reading you once owned Prince Albert's game guns! Though I haven't read the article yet I looked at the picture that included your 20 bore. Very fine gun, sir! Coincidentally I had the issue pulled out for reading the second Bell article on British muzzleloaders. I got a beautiful Joseph Lang muzzleloader (double) last spring. I know from e-mails with Atkin, Grant and Lang that it was built in 1825 (serial # 355), but unfortunately all records from the beginning to 1847 were destroyed in the blitz.
I've always been drawn to Alex Henry guns, can't really say why, but probably because every picture I've ever seen of one just got to me. I think I would have to agree with your assessment of them, Mr GD. I'm like that with Westley Richards as well, acquired a beautiful double 12 bore from 1890 some 8 or 9 years ago. My first damascus barrels! And yes, Dicksons doesn't seem especially inviting when it comes to helping one trace their Alex Henry. A cold casse of "Let's have the money upfront and you'll take whatever we give you". Still holding back on tracing it through them, but I know curiosity will get the better of me one day and I'll bite. Thank You VERY much for finding out when mine was made, more or less. Even older than I had thought, which is interesting (at least to me!)
