ALEXANDER HENRY: RIFLE MAKER. By Donald Dallas.

2017 1st edition. Large 4to (256 x 316mm). Pp328. Colour and b/w photographs throughout, b/w illustrations, bibliography. Blue boards, spine titled in gilt. Edition limited to 750 signed and numbered copies.

Alexander Henry was the "Henry" in Martini-Henry; "he invented a falling-block action in 1865 that became the most popular and successful of all such actions. In 1870 he also became the first gunmaker to patent the ubiquitous snap cap". Henry spent the early part of his career as foreman in the workshop of Edinburgh's Samuel Gourlay, which business he took over on Gourlay's retirement. Once in charge, Alexander Henry specialised in good-quality rifles for sporting and military customers, and carried out great deal of development work aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of the rifle. An informative and readable work about a significant figure of the Victorian era.