This rifle signed by the late Dr. Gary White is inspired by mid 19th century era halfstock English Sporting rifles. The rifle is stocked in black walnut and trimmed in rust blued iron furniture with a rubber recoil pad fitted on the butt. The rifle is fitted with a .451 caliber fast twist barrel that gives the rifle a modest weight and allows it to point easily. The black walnut stock is shaped with a pistol grip. The R.E. Davis Alexander Henry bar lock should provide reliable ignition. Trigger reach is 14" to fit a todays average size shooter. Weight is a modest 10 pounds.
The .451 caliber Kelly barrel has a tapered octagon profile to give the rifle a modest weight without being overly muzzle heavy. The 33", including breech plug, barrel has a 1-1/8" breech tapering to 7/8" at the muzzle. The 451 caliber bore is rifled with seven lands and grooves, .459 land to groove, with a 1 in 20" twist for shooting a conical bullet. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The barrel is fitted with a express style rear sight with a large V notch cut and two folding leaves. The front sight is a Swiss style globe sight with a post and bead.
The straight grain walnut was selected for strength, making it ideal for a sporting rifle. The buttstock is fitted with a rubber recoil pad to spread the recoil over a large area. The stock is shaped with a pistol grip in Rigby style. Shaping is large with the wood around the lock panel and the tang standing proud of those surfaces. The blued steel triggerguard has a large bow to allow easy access to the single trigger. The forearm has nickel silver escutcheon plates for the single wedge key. The end of the forearm is shaped with a decorative groove. No ramrod entry pipe is fitted, while the rib has two English style ramrod pipes fitted. The ramrod is fitted with steel tip threaded 10-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. The rifle has a hooked breech with English style tang to allow for easy cleaning without risk of wetting the stock. Place the lock at half cock, remove the ramrod, drift the wedge key clear of the under lug and the barrel can be lifted out of the stock. A simple sideplate surrounds the single lock bolt. English Sporting Rifles are grand and elegant, never flashy or gaudy. The single wedge key is mounted through a brightly polished ball end English style escutcheon plates.
The R.E. Davis Alexander Henry style English bar lock, with Express rifle style hammer, is finished to a dark rust blue to match the barrel and furniture. This English style percussion lock has a strong mainspring, smooth crisp feel, and fast lock time, due to good internal lock geometry. A drip bar is fitted to replace the thin wood ahead of the breech which was often susceptible to damage over time. The breech is fitted with a hex drive nipple for a No. 11 percussion cap.
Consider this rifle if you seek a contemporary English Sporting Rifle with quality percussion lock and fast twist tapered octagon barrel. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. If it does not suit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.