diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/axis.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/axis.hpp
index 0c0ceb26..90b6a13e 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/axis.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/axis.hpp
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <vector>
 
+// forward declaration for serialization
+namespace boost { namespace serialization { class access; }}
+
 namespace boost {
 namespace histogram {
 
@@ -136,8 +139,9 @@ private:
   int shape_ = 0;
   std::string label_;
 
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
   template <class Archive>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, axis_base<true> &, unsigned);
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 template <> class axis_base<false> {
@@ -185,8 +189,9 @@ private:
   int size_ = 0;
   std::string label_;
 
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
   template <class Archive>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, axis_base<false> &, unsigned);
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 namespace transform {
@@ -281,14 +286,9 @@ public:
 private:
   value_type min_ = 0.0, delta_ = 1.0;
 
-  template <class Archive, typename RealType1,
-            template <class> class Transform1>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, regular_axis<RealType1, Transform1> &,
-                        unsigned);
-
-  // workaround for gcc-4.8
-  template <class Archive, typename RealType1>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, regular_axis<RealType1> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <class Archive>
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 /** Axis for real-valued angles.
@@ -350,8 +350,9 @@ public:
 private:
   value_type phase_ = 0.0, perimeter_ = 1.0;
 
-  template <class Archive, typename RealType1>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, circular_axis<RealType1> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <class Archive>
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 /** An axis for real-valued data and bins of varying width.
@@ -442,8 +443,9 @@ public:
 private:
   std::unique_ptr<value_type[]> x_; // smaller size compared to std::vector
 
-  template <class Archive, typename RealType1>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, variable_axis<RealType1> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <class Archive>
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 /** An axis for a contiguous range of integers.
@@ -499,8 +501,9 @@ public:
 private:
   value_type min_ = 0;
 
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
   template <class Archive>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, integer_axis &, unsigned);
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 /** An axis for enumerated categories.
@@ -582,8 +585,9 @@ public:
 private:
   std::unique_ptr<std::string[]> ptr_;
 
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
   template <class Archive>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, category_axis &, unsigned);
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 using default_axes = mpl::vector<regular_axis<double>, regular_axis<float>,
diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_dynamic.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_dynamic.hpp
index e9940d35..b80f0de3 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_dynamic.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_dynamic.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <vector>
 
+// forward declaration for serialization
+namespace boost { namespace serialization { class access; }}
+
+// forward declaration for python
+namespace boost { namespace python { class access; }}
+
 namespace boost {
 namespace histogram {
 
@@ -274,12 +280,11 @@ private:
     return p;
   }
 
-  friend struct storage_access;
-
   template <typename D, typename A, typename S> friend class histogram;
 
-  template <typename Archiv, typename A, typename S>
-  friend void serialize(Archiv &, histogram<Dynamic, A, S> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::python::access;
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <typename Archive> void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 template <typename... Axes>
diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_static.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_static.hpp
index f243278c..c6a0d05e 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_static.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/histogram_impl_static.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 #include <boost/mpl/vector.hpp>
 #include <type_traits>
 
+// forward declaration for serialization
+namespace boost { namespace serialization { class access; }}
+
 namespace boost {
 namespace histogram {
 
@@ -204,8 +207,8 @@ private:
 
   template <typename D, typename A, typename S> friend class histogram;
 
-  template <class Archive, class S, class A>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, histogram<Static, S, A> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <typename Archive> void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 /// default static type factory
diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/serialization.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/serialization.hpp
index a19f06d6..27484111 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/serialization.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/serialization.hpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ namespace histogram {
 namespace detail {
 
 template <class Archive>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, weight &wt, unsigned /* version */) {
+void serialize(Archive &ar, weight &wt, unsigned /* version */) {
   ar &wt.w;
   ar &wt.w2;
 }
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ template <typename Archive> struct serialize_helper {
 } // namespace detail
 
 template <class Archive, typename Container>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, container_storage<Container> &store,
+void serialize(Archive &ar, container_storage<Container> &store,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
   ar &store.c_;
 }
@@ -118,84 +118,79 @@ void adaptive_storage<Allocator>::serialize(Archive &ar,
 }
 
 template <class Archive>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, axis_base<false> &base,
-                      unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &base.size_;
-  ar &base.label_;
+void axis_base<false>::serialize(Archive &ar,
+                          unsigned /* version */) {
+  ar &size_;
+  ar &label_;
 }
 
 template <class Archive>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, axis_base<true> &base,
+void axis_base<true>::serialize(Archive &ar,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &base.size_;
-  ar &base.shape_;
-  ar &base.label_;
+  ar &size_;
+  ar &shape_;
+  ar &label_;
 }
 
-template <class Archive, typename RealType, template <class> class Transform>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, regular_axis<RealType, Transform> &axis,
-                      unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(axis);
-  ar &axis.min_;
-  ar &axis.delta_;
+template <typename RealType, template <class> class Transform>
+template <class Archive>
+void regular_axis<RealType, Transform>::serialize(Archive &ar,
+                                                  unsigned /* version */) {
+  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(*this);
+  ar &min_;
+  ar &delta_;
 }
 
-// workaround for gcc-4.8
-template <class Archive, typename RealType>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, regular_axis<RealType> &axis,
+template <typename RealType>
+template <class Archive>
+void circular_axis<RealType>::serialize(Archive &ar,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(axis);
-  ar &axis.min_;
-  ar &axis.delta_;
+  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<false>>(*this);
+  ar &phase_;
+  ar &perimeter_;
 }
 
-template <class Archive, typename RealType>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, circular_axis<RealType> &axis,
+template <typename RealType>
+template <class Archive>
+void variable_axis<RealType>::serialize(Archive &ar,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<false>>(axis);
-  ar &axis.phase_;
-  ar &axis.perimeter_;
-}
-
-template <class Archive, typename RealType>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, variable_axis<RealType> &axis,
-                      unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(axis);
+  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(*this);
   if (Archive::is_loading::value) {
-    axis.x_.reset(new RealType[axis.bins() + 1]);
+    x_.reset(new RealType[bins() + 1]);
   }
-  ar &boost::serialization::make_array(axis.x_.get(), axis.bins() + 1);
+  ar &boost::serialization::make_array(x_.get(), bins() + 1);
 }
 
 template <class Archive>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, integer_axis &axis, unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(axis);
-  ar &axis.min_;
+void integer_axis::serialize(Archive &ar, unsigned /* version */) {
+  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<true>>(*this);
+  ar &min_;
 }
 
 template <class Archive>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, category_axis &axis,
+void category_axis::serialize(Archive &ar,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<false>>(axis);
+  ar &boost::serialization::base_object<axis_base<false>>(*this);
   if (Archive::is_loading::value) {
-    axis.ptr_.reset(new std::string[axis.bins()]);
+    ptr_.reset(new std::string[bins()]);
   }
-  ar &boost::serialization::make_array(axis.ptr_.get(), axis.bins());
+  ar &boost::serialization::make_array(ptr_.get(), bins());
 }
 
-template <class Archive, class A, class S>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, histogram<Static, A, S> &h,
-                      unsigned /* version */) {
+template <class A, class S>
+template <class Archive>
+void histogram<Static, A, S>::serialize(Archive &ar, unsigned /* version */) {
   detail::serialize_helper<Archive> sh(ar);
-  fusion::for_each(h.axes_, sh);
-  ar &h.storage_;
+  fusion::for_each(axes_, sh);
+  ar &storage_;
 }
 
-template <class Archive, class A, class S>
-inline void serialize(Archive &ar, histogram<Dynamic, A, S> &h,
+template <class A, class S>
+template <class Archive>
+void histogram<Dynamic, A, S>::serialize(Archive &ar,
                       unsigned /* version */) {
-  ar &h.axes_;
-  ar &h.storage_;
+  ar &axes_;
+  ar &storage_;
 }
 
 } // namespace histogram
diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/storage/adaptive_storage.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/storage/adaptive_storage.hpp
index 39b5f753..dbf122cb 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/storage/adaptive_storage.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/storage/adaptive_storage.hpp
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
 #include <limits>
 #include <type_traits>
 
-// forward declaration for serialization workaround
-namespace boost {
-namespace serialization {
-class access;
-} // namespace serialization
-} // namespace boost
+// forward declaration for serialization
+namespace boost { namespace serialization { class access; }}
+
+// forward declaration for python
+namespace boost { namespace python { class access; }}
 
 namespace boost {
 namespace histogram {
@@ -450,8 +449,7 @@ private:
 
   buffer_type buffer_;
 
-  friend struct storage_access;
-  // workaround for gcc-4.8
+  friend class ::boost::python::access;
   friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
   template <class Archive> void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
diff --git a/include/boost/histogram/storage/container_storage.hpp b/include/boost/histogram/storage/container_storage.hpp
index 78533099..9c66e36e 100644
--- a/include/boost/histogram/storage/container_storage.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/histogram/storage/container_storage.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #include <boost/histogram/detail/meta.hpp>
 #include <cstddef>
 
+// forward declaration for serialization
+namespace boost { namespace serialization { class access; }}
+
 namespace boost {
 namespace histogram {
 
@@ -81,8 +84,9 @@ private:
 
   template <typename C> friend class container_storage;
 
-  template <typename Archive, typename C>
-  friend void serialize(Archive &, container_storage<C> &, unsigned);
+  friend class ::boost::serialization::access;
+  template <typename Archive>
+  void serialize(Archive &, unsigned);
 };
 
 } // namespace histogram
diff --git a/src/python/histogram.cpp b/src/python/histogram.cpp
index ab70f0fb..2a21e867 100644
--- a/src/python/histogram.cpp
+++ b/src/python/histogram.cpp
@@ -27,16 +27,138 @@
 #endif
 
 namespace boost {
-namespace histogram {
 
+namespace histogram {
 using dynamic_histogram = histogram<Dynamic, default_axes, adaptive_storage<>>;
+} // namespace histogram
+
+namespace python {
 
 #ifdef HAVE_NUMPY
-auto array_cast = [](python::handle<>& h) {
-  return python::downcast<PyArrayObject>(h.get());
+auto array_cast = [](handle<>& h) {
+  return downcast<PyArrayObject>(h.get());
 };
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NUMPY
+class access {
+public:
+  using mp_int = histogram::adaptive_storage<>::mp_int;
+  using weight = histogram::adaptive_storage<>::weight;
+  template <typename T>
+  using array = histogram::adaptive_storage<>::array<T>;
+
+  struct dtype_visitor : public static_visitor<std::pair<int, object>> {
+    template <typename Array>
+    std::pair<int, object> operator()(const Array& /*unused*/) const {
+      std::pair<int, object> p;
+      p.first = sizeof(typename Array::value_type);
+      p.second = str("|u") + str(p.first);
+      return p;
+    }
+    std::pair<int, object> operator()(const array<void>& /*unused*/) const {
+      std::pair<int, object> p;
+      p.first = sizeof(uint8_t);
+      p.second = str("|u") + str(p.first);
+      return p;
+    }
+    std::pair<int, object> operator()(const array<mp_int>& /*unused*/) const {
+      std::pair<int, object> p;
+      p.first = sizeof(double);
+      p.second = str("|f") + str(p.first);
+      return p;
+    }
+    std::pair<int, object> operator()(const array<weight>& /*unused*/) const {
+      std::pair<int, object> p;
+      p.first = 0; // communicate that the type was array<weight>
+      p.second = str("|f") + str(sizeof(double));
+      return p;
+    }
+  };
+
+  struct data_visitor : public static_visitor<object> {
+    const list& shapes;
+    const list& strides;
+    data_visitor(const list& sh, const list& st) : shapes(sh), strides(st) {}
+    template <typename Array>
+    object operator()(const Array& b) const {
+      return make_tuple(reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(b.begin()), true);
+    }
+    object operator()(const array<void>& b) const {
+      // cannot pass non-existent memory to numpy; make new
+      // zero-initialized uint8 array, and pass it
+      int dim = len(shapes);
+      npy_intp shapes2[BOOST_HISTOGRAM_AXIS_LIMIT];
+      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
+        shapes2[i] = extract<npy_intp>(shapes[i]);
+      }
+      handle<> a(PyArray_SimpleNew(dim, shapes2, NPY_UINT8));
+      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
+        PyArray_STRIDES(array_cast(a))[i] = extract<npy_intp>(strides[i]);
+      }
+      auto *buf = static_cast<uint8_t *>(PyArray_DATA(array_cast(a)));
+      std::fill(buf, buf + b.size, uint8_t(0));
+      PyArray_CLEARFLAGS(array_cast(a), NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE);
+      return object(a);
+    }
+    object operator()(const array<mp_int>& b) const {
+      // cannot pass cpp_int to numpy; make new
+      // double array, fill it and pass it
+      int dim = len(shapes);
+      npy_intp shapes2[BOOST_HISTOGRAM_AXIS_LIMIT];
+      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
+        shapes2[i] = extract<npy_intp>(shapes[i]);
+      }
+      handle<> a(PyArray_SimpleNew(dim, shapes2, NPY_DOUBLE));
+      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
+        PyArray_STRIDES(array_cast(a))[i] = extract<npy_intp>(strides[i]);
+      }
+      auto *buf = static_cast<double *>(PyArray_DATA(array_cast(a)));
+      for (std::size_t i = 0; i < b.size; ++i) {
+        buf[i] = static_cast<double>(b[i]);
+      }
+      PyArray_CLEARFLAGS(array_cast(a), NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE);
+      return object(a);
+    }
+  };
+
+  static object array_interface(const histogram::dynamic_histogram &self) {
+    dict d;
+
+    list shapes;
+    list strides;
+    auto &b = self.storage_.buffer_;
+    auto dtype = apply_visitor(dtype_visitor(), b);
+    auto stride = dtype.first;
+    if (stride == 0) { // buffer is weight, needs special treatment
+      stride = sizeof(double);
+      strides.append(stride);
+      stride *= 2;
+      shapes.append(2);
+    }
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < self.dim(); ++i) {
+      const auto s = shape(self.axis(i));
+      shapes.append(s);
+      strides.append(stride);
+      stride *= s;
+    }
+    if (self.dim() == 0) {
+      shapes.append(0);
+      strides.append(stride);
+    }
+    d["shape"] = tuple(shapes);
+    d["strides"] = tuple(strides);
+    d["typestr"] = dtype.second;
+    d["data"] = apply_visitor(data_visitor(shapes, strides), b);
+    return d;
+  }
+};
+#endif
+
+} // namespace python
+
+namespace histogram {
+
 struct axis_visitor : public static_visitor<python::object> {
   template <typename T> python::object operator()(const T &t) const {
     return python::object(t);
@@ -123,8 +245,8 @@ python::object histogram_fill(python::tuple args, python::dict kwargs) {
       // exception is thrown automatically if
       python::handle<> a(PyArray_FROM_OTF(o.ptr(), NPY_DOUBLE, NPY_ARRAY_IN_ARRAY));
 
-      npy_intp *dims = PyArray_DIMS(array_cast(a));
-      switch (PyArray_NDIM(array_cast(a))) {
+      npy_intp *dims = PyArray_DIMS(python::array_cast(a));
+      switch (PyArray_NDIM(python::array_cast(a))) {
       case 1:
         if (self.dim() > 1) {
           PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "array has to be two-dimensional");
@@ -150,20 +272,20 @@ python::object histogram_fill(python::tuple args, python::dict kwargs) {
           python::handle<> aw(
               PyArray_FROM_OTF(ow.ptr(), NPY_DOUBLE, NPY_ARRAY_IN_ARRAY));
 
-          if (PyArray_NDIM(array_cast(aw)) != 1) {
+          if (PyArray_NDIM(python::array_cast(aw)) != 1) {
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError,
                             "array has to be one-dimensional");
             python::throw_error_already_set();
           }
 
-          if (PyArray_DIMS(array_cast(aw))[0] != dims[0]) {
+          if (PyArray_DIMS(python::array_cast(aw))[0] != dims[0]) {
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_ValueError, "sizes do not match");
             python::throw_error_already_set();
           }
 
           for (unsigned i = 0; i < dims[0]; ++i) {
-            double *v = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(array_cast(a), i));
-            double *w = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(array_cast(aw), i));
+            double *v = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(python::array_cast(a), i));
+            double *w = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(python::array_cast(aw), i));
             self.wfill(*w, v, v + self.dim());
           }
 
@@ -173,7 +295,7 @@ python::object histogram_fill(python::tuple args, python::dict kwargs) {
         }
       } else {
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < dims[0]; ++i) {
-          double *v = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(array_cast(a), i));
+          double *v = reinterpret_cast<double *>(PyArray_GETPTR1(python::array_cast(a), i));
           self.fill(v, v + self.dim());
         }
       }
@@ -273,120 +395,6 @@ std::string histogram_repr(const dynamic_histogram &h) {
   return os.str();
 }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_NUMPY
-struct storage_access {
-  using mp_int = adaptive_storage<>::mp_int;
-  using weight = adaptive_storage<>::weight;
-  template <typename T>
-  using array = adaptive_storage<>::array<T>;
-
-  struct dtype_visitor : public static_visitor<std::pair<int, python::object>> {
-    template <typename Array>
-    std::pair<int, python::object> operator()(const Array& /*unused*/) const {
-      std::pair<int, python::object> p;
-      p.first = sizeof(typename Array::value_type);
-      p.second = python::str("|u") + python::str(p.first);
-      return p;
-    }
-    std::pair<int, python::object> operator()(const array<void>& /*unused*/) const {
-      std::pair<int, python::object> p;
-      p.first = sizeof(uint8_t);
-      p.second = python::str("|u") + python::str(p.first);
-      return p;
-    }
-    std::pair<int, python::object> operator()(const array<mp_int>& /*unused*/) const {
-      std::pair<int, python::object> p;
-      p.first = sizeof(double);
-      p.second = python::str("|f") + python::str(p.first);
-      return p;
-    }
-    std::pair<int, python::object> operator()(const array<weight>& /*unused*/) const {
-      std::pair<int, python::object> p;
-      p.first = 0; // communicate that the type was array<weight>
-      p.second = python::str("|f") + python::str(sizeof(double));
-      return p;
-    }
-  };
-
-  struct data_visitor : public static_visitor<python::object> {
-    const python::list& shapes;
-    const python::list& strides;
-    data_visitor(const python::list& sh, const python::list& st) : shapes(sh), strides(st) {}
-    template <typename Array>
-    python::object operator()(const Array& b) const {
-      return python::make_tuple(reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(b.begin()), true);
-    }
-    python::object operator()(const array<void>& b) const {
-      // cannot pass non-existent memory to numpy; make new
-      // zero-initialized uint8 array, and pass it
-      int dim = python::len(shapes);
-      npy_intp shapes2[BOOST_HISTOGRAM_AXIS_LIMIT];
-      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
-        shapes2[i] = python::extract<npy_intp>(shapes[i]);
-      }
-      python::handle<> a(PyArray_SimpleNew(dim, shapes2, NPY_UINT8));
-      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
-        PyArray_STRIDES(array_cast(a))[i] = python::extract<npy_intp>(strides[i]);
-      }
-      auto *buf = static_cast<uint8_t *>(PyArray_DATA(array_cast(a)));
-      std::fill(buf, buf + b.size, uint8_t(0));
-      PyArray_CLEARFLAGS(array_cast(a), NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE);
-      return python::object(a);
-    }
-    python::object operator()(const array<mp_int>& b) const {
-      // cannot pass cpp_int to numpy; make new
-      // double array, fill it and pass it
-      int dim = python::len(shapes);
-      npy_intp shapes2[BOOST_HISTOGRAM_AXIS_LIMIT];
-      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
-        shapes2[i] = python::extract<npy_intp>(shapes[i]);
-      }
-      python::handle<> a(PyArray_SimpleNew(dim, shapes2, NPY_DOUBLE));
-      for (int i = 0; i < dim; ++i) {
-        PyArray_STRIDES(array_cast(a))[i] = python::extract<npy_intp>(strides[i]);
-      }
-      auto *buf = static_cast<double *>(PyArray_DATA(array_cast(a)));
-      for (std::size_t i = 0; i < b.size; ++i) {
-        buf[i] = static_cast<double>(b[i]);
-      }
-      PyArray_CLEARFLAGS(array_cast(a), NPY_ARRAY_WRITEABLE);
-      return python::object(a);
-    }
-  };
-
-  static python::object array_interface(const dynamic_histogram &self) {
-    python::dict d;
-
-    python::list shapes;
-    python::list strides;
-    auto &b = self.storage_.buffer_;
-    auto dtype = apply_visitor(dtype_visitor(), b);
-    auto stride = dtype.first;
-    if (stride == 0) { // buffer is weight, needs special treatment
-      stride = sizeof(double);
-      strides.append(stride);
-      stride *= 2;
-      shapes.append(2);
-    }
-    for (unsigned i = 0; i < self.dim(); ++i) {
-      const auto s = shape(self.axis(i));
-      shapes.append(s);
-      strides.append(stride);
-      stride *= s;
-    }
-    if (self.dim() == 0) {
-      shapes.append(0);
-      strides.append(stride);
-    }
-    d["shape"] = python::tuple(shapes);
-    d["strides"] = python::tuple(strides);
-    d["typestr"] = dtype.second;
-    d["data"] = apply_visitor(data_visitor(shapes, strides), b);
-    return d;
-  }
-};
-#endif
-
 void register_histogram() {
   python::docstring_options dopt(true, true, false);
 
@@ -399,7 +407,7 @@ void register_histogram() {
       // shadowed C++ ctors
       .def(python::init<const dynamic_histogram &>())
 #ifdef HAVE_NUMPY
-      .add_property("__array_interface__", &storage_access::array_interface)
+      .add_property("__array_interface__", &python::access::array_interface)
 #endif
       .def("__len__", &dynamic_histogram::dim)
       .def("__getitem__", histogram_axis)
diff --git a/test/adaptive_storage_test.cpp b/test/adaptive_storage_test.cpp
index 1ad8829c..bcf1de29 100644
--- a/test/adaptive_storage_test.cpp
+++ b/test/adaptive_storage_test.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <sstream>
 
 namespace boost {
+
 namespace histogram {
 
 template <typename T> adaptive_storage<> prepare(unsigned n = 1) {
@@ -48,13 +49,20 @@ template <> adaptive_storage<> prepare<detail::mp_int>(unsigned n) {
   return s;
 }
 
-struct storage_access {
-  template <typename T> static adaptive_storage<> set_value(unsigned n, T x) {
-    adaptive_storage<> s = prepare<T>(n);
-    get<adaptive_storage<>::array<T>>(s.buffer_)[0] = x;
+} // namespace prepare
+
+namespace python { // cheating to get access
+class access {
+public:
+  template <typename T> static histogram::adaptive_storage<> set_value(unsigned n, T x) {
+    histogram::adaptive_storage<> s = histogram::prepare<T>(n);
+    get<histogram::adaptive_storage<>::array<T>>(s.buffer_)[0] = x;
     return s;
   }
 };
+} // namespace python
+
+namespace histogram {
 
 template <typename T> void copy_impl() {
   const auto b = prepare<T>(1);
@@ -74,7 +82,7 @@ template <typename T> void copy_impl() {
 }
 
 template <typename T> void serialization_impl() {
-  const auto a = storage_access::set_value(1, T(1));
+  const auto a = python::access::set_value(1, T(1));
   std::ostringstream os;
   std::string buf;
   {
@@ -115,7 +123,7 @@ template <> void serialization_impl<void>() {
 
 template <typename T> void equal_impl() {
   adaptive_storage<> a(1);
-  auto b = storage_access::set_value(1, T(0));
+  auto b = python::access::set_value(1, T(0));
   BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.value(0), 0.0);
   BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.variance(0), 0.0);
   BOOST_TEST(a == b);
@@ -123,7 +131,7 @@ template <typename T> void equal_impl() {
   BOOST_TEST(!(a == b));
 
   container_storage<std::vector<unsigned>> c(1);
-  auto d = storage_access::set_value(1, T(0));
+  auto d = python::access::set_value(1, T(0));
   BOOST_TEST(c == d);
   c.increase(0);
   BOOST_TEST(!(c == d));
@@ -131,8 +139,8 @@ template <typename T> void equal_impl() {
 
 template <> void equal_impl<void>() {
   adaptive_storage<> a(1);
-  auto b = storage_access::set_value(1, uint8_t(0));
-  auto c = storage_access::set_value(2, uint8_t(0));
+  auto b = python::access::set_value(1, uint8_t(0));
+  auto c = python::access::set_value(2, uint8_t(0));
   auto d = container_storage<std::vector<unsigned>>(1);
   BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.value(0), 0.0);
   BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.variance(0), 0.0);
@@ -152,7 +160,7 @@ template <> void equal_impl<void>() {
 
 template <typename T> void increase_and_grow_impl() {
   auto tmax = std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
-  auto s = storage_access::set_value<T>(2, tmax - 1);
+  auto s = python::access::set_value<T>(2, tmax - 1);
   auto n = s;
   auto n2 = s;
 
@@ -180,7 +188,7 @@ template <> void increase_and_grow_impl<void>() {
 }
 
 template <typename T> void convert_container_storage_impl() {
-  const auto aref = storage_access::set_value(1, T(0));
+  const auto aref = python::access::set_value(1, T(0));
   container_storage<std::vector<uint8_t>> s(1);
   s.increase(0);
 
@@ -306,7 +314,7 @@ int main() {
     increase_and_grow_impl<uint64_t>();
 
     // only increase for mp_int
-    auto a = storage_access::set_value(2, detail::mp_int(1));
+    auto a = boost::python::access::set_value(2, detail::mp_int(1));
     BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.value(0), 1.0);
     BOOST_TEST_EQ(a.value(1), 0.0);
     a.increase(0);