Holts in-house historian Donald Dallas set to release a new book on Scottish gunmaker Alexander Henry

Accomplished historical author Donald Dallas, Holts Auctioneers’ in-house historian has just announced the release of his eleventh book, ‘Alexander Henry, Rifle Maker’, which will be available to purchase late November. The book focuses on the life of Henry, an influential Edinburgh gunmaker. Celebrated for inventing Henry rifling in 1860, the most accurate rifling of the 19th century and the drop block action in 1865, the first and most successful of the drop block single shot rifles, he was one of the most successful rifle makers of the 19th century. Henry went on to build rifles for British and European royalty, maharajahs, aristocrats and big game hunters. His personal life was not without sadness, after Henry accidentally shot and killed his son in 1860. When Henry died in 1894, his business was bought by Alex Martin but forever remained a shadow of its former self. Donald Dallas commented: “I was inspired to write this book on Henry, as he was such a significant gunmaker, whom nothing of great note had been written on. Demonstrating his reputation, when the Prince of Wales visited Edinburgh in the 1870s, he requested one audience only, with Alexander Henry". If you are interested in picking up a copy of the book for £60, it can be purchased from www.donalddallas.com or www.holtauctioneers.com. For any queries, email, [email protected]. Holts Auctioneers’ next auction in London is on Thursday 14th December 2017.