W E Barratt, Newcastle, Staffordshire
'Patent Block Safety' Model
12 bore Back action, Sidelock Non Ejector
no. 5190

Date of manufacture: 1878-1896

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun represents a good example of the early hammerless guns that were becoming more accepted in the last quarter of the 19th Century and a rare chance to buy a gun retailed by this little known gunmaker. Within the above dates, this gun was re-barrelled by the highly respected Coggswell & Harrison and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of Thomas Perkes' design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Back action locks with dip edge lock plates,
Interceptor sears,
Blanked off 'Gas Check' on breech face,
Top lever opening operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle',
Perkes' cocking rods running from the action knuckle to the breasts of the tumblers,
Deeley forend catch
Gun weight 6lb 7oz Engraving style Border with scroll details
Trigger pulls
measure approximately: Front trigger 4 ½ lbs Rear trigger 3 ½ lbs
The steel barrels are 30" 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 2006.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.8mm (0.740")
0.741"
0.024" Minimum
0.012" (1/4)
Left Barrel
18.8mm (0.740")
0.741"
0.024" Minimum
0.020"(1/2)

Straight Hand Grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from straight grain honey coloured walnut. The replacement stock has a very slight cast off for a right-handed shot and is finished with a chequered butt.

Lightly figured walnut stock
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been recut to the normal back lock 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 3/8"
14 1/2"
14 1/2"
15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 3/4"
2 1/8"
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:
Perkes' cocking rod patent no. 1968 of 1878,
Scott's gas check patent no. 617 of 1882,

'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,

Needham & Hinton interceptor sears patent no. 706 of 1879,

Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873
.