Army
& Navy CSL, London
'Zephyr'
model
12 bore Light weight, backaction hammer gun
no. 22049
Year
of production: 1898
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage Guns'
Comment
This gun represents an unusually fine condition example of
the light weight sporting hammerguns that were the vogue at
the turn of the 19th Century. There is a substantial amount
of original colour hardening still visible on the locks and
action and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes
it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game
or clays.
This gun comes complete with a light weight leather case in
tremendous external condition with leather corner reinforcements
and new handle and straps. Internally, the case has been relined
with new 'Burgundy' all wool baize, carries an original Maker's
label and is fitted out with ebony and brass tools including
2 turnscrews and a nipple wrench mounted in a hand made oak
block and a two part cleaning rod. The case is further equipped
with a spare set of dedicated strikers in a horn striker pot,
oil bottle and set of cleaning tools in a leather wallet.
WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW
SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT
US.
|
The action is of light weight design and
features:
Considerable amounts of original colour hardening
Double triggers,
Back action locks,
Rebounding hammers,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt',
Three point bolting including 'doll's head' top extension
Gun weight only 6lb
Engraving style Best fine scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front
trigger 4 1/2lbs Rear trigger 4 1/2lbs
The steel barrels are 28"
in length, chambered for 2
¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail'
lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth,
concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges
in 2003.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
|
0.730"
|
0.025" Minimum
|
0.002" Cyl
|
Left Barrel |
18.6mm (0.732")
|
0.732"
|
0.027" Minimum
|
0.040" Full
|
Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from walnut. The 'snap on' forend is most probably the original
wood whilst the stock is a well figured replacement. There are two 'shakes'
in the body of the stock, on the right hand flat and rear comb, which
have been filled with shaped pieces of dark wood.
The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot.
The 18 lines per inch
chequering has been cut to a normal backlock
design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation
as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses
no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours
of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.
Approximate stock
measurements at date of publication:
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
|
Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
14 1/2"
|
14 9/16"
|
14 9/16"
|
15 1/8"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 3/8"
|
1 5/8"
|
2 3/16"
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
1/8" (approximate)
|
1/2" (approximate)
|
For the purposes of these measurements,
'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular
to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8"
from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).
Patents Exhibited include:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867
Mills' top extension patent no. 4980 of 1878
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
and last but not least
Henry's snap cap patent no. 3257 of 1870.