The maker’s records confirm that this Best Quality rifle was completed in 1860 for the Marquess of Ailsa. The Marquess of Ailsa is the Scottish hereditary Clan Chief of the Clan Kennedy, with the name of the title taken from the island of Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. Archibald Kennedy (1816-1870) of the Clan Kennedy, inherited his titles from his grandfather in 1846 becoming the 2nd Marquess. He served as a Lieutenant in the famous 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Scottish county of Ayrshire in 1861. With browned Damascus barrels with flat partially file cut matted rib with bead front sight, standing notch rear sight with platinum inlaid center line, and signed “ALEXR. HENRY. 12 SOUTH ST. ANDREW ST. EDINBURGH. PATENT No. 66” (the 66th use of Henry’s famous 1860 rifling patent). Casehardened patent breeches each with pierced platinum plug and engraved with deer’s head on the rib section. Standing breech, bar in wood sidelocks each with reinforced hammer, blued safety catch behind the hammer and signed “ALEXR. HENRY”, and furniture including trigger guard, pistol grip cap with hinged trap cover, and hinged patch box cover. The standing breech, locks and furniture all engraved with fine scrollwork interspersed with fine exotic panel game scenes involving deer and tigers on the locks, a tiger and a snake in the jungle setting on the trigger guard bow, a running stag on the buttplate tang and an imperial stag beset by hounds on the patch box cover. Well-figured 14 inch pistol grip half length stock with checkered grip and forearm, a blank shield shaped gold initial escutcheon inset at the wrist and a sling eye fitted beneath the butt, the corresponding sling eye mounted beneath the central ramrod pipe. Brass tipped wooden ramrod. In brass cornered mahogany fitted case lined in green baize, the lid with large printed Alexander Henry trade label. Provenance: Archibald Kennedy, 2nd Marquess of Ailsa and The Malcolm King Collection

Fine as refinished. The barrels retain near 100% of their rebrowned finish, attractive Damascus pattern, rib signature and file cut matting softened. Some corrosion pock marking is visible beneath the finish on the underside of the barrels covered by the forearm, the serial numbers are clear, but the London proof marks are worn. Breeches a dark grey patina with traces of original casehardened finish evident on the underside, engraving crisp. The standing breech and locks are bright with minor discoloration to the locks, engraving is clear and sharp throughout. The furniture is also bright throughout, engraving clear but softened on the buttplate and trigger guard, and with light surface corrosion marking to the patch box cover. The stock has been refinished with occasional scattered age related storage and handling blemishes, checkering well defined, with attractive figure. The ramrod has been replaced. The case is in very good condition having been recently relined, the original trade label is stained and very faded. Externally there are some age related storage marks. Overall a fine example of an early Alexander Henry rifle.