J Blanch and Son,
29 Gracechurch Street, London
12 bore Back action, Sidelock Ejector
no. 5601
Approximate date of manufacture: pre-1896, probably around 1890.

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Heritage Guns' Comment


I have a great affection for Blanch Back-action SLE’s as my father shot with one from his early 20’s until he retired from shooting at the age of 85. When I say ‘one’, I mean he used the same gun for 60 odd years! It may not have seen a huge number of shots but it certainly saw huge amounts of weather and is still in good functioning condition in my guncase some 20 years later.
Blanch had a great affinity for back-actions, the vast majority of their sidelocks being such right up to the early days of the C20th and their engraving was also most distinctive. At this time their engraving can be divided into three distinct styles: areas of ‘Creeping Vine’ with foliate scroll, an open pattern with around 70% coverage which adorns this gun; classic bouquet & scroll, about 85% coverage, used mainly on their Grant style sidelever hammerguns and lastly 100% coverage bold foliate scroll on their most ornate guns.
This is a most attractive gun with its bold engraving style and, given its fine balance, interceptor sears and strong stock, it would make an excellent gun for upland game or clays.
Presented in a relined, contemporary leather case with original Maker's label and some accessories.

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:
Cocking rods running from the forend iron to breasts of tumblers;
Breech face ‘Gas Check’ slots;
Nine pin, back-action sidelocks with ‘Block Patent Safety’ interceptor sears;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
 Top lever operating a ‘Purdey Bolt’ by way of a ‘Scott Spindle’;
Top extension giving a third bite;
Perkes’ ejector box;
Modified Hollis forend lever catch. 
Gun weight 6lb 11oz
Engraving style Pattern of ‘Creeping Vine’ and foliate scroll. Gold inlayed SAFE.
Action flats stamped ‘PATENT ACTION’ and ‘PAT 10679-86 No 252’ in a box.
Forend lever engraved ‘J BLANCH & SON’S IMPROVED SNAP BOLT’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾ lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
 The rebrowned damascus barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 ½” (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 2 ½” nitro powder cartridges in 1961.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction


Right Barrel
0.729"
0.733"
0.026"
0.011" (IC)

Left Barrel
0.729"
0.734"
0.027"
0.019" (M)

The Original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend is crafted from well figured, straight grain walnut. The stock is cast-off for the right hand shot, features a vacant white metal oval and a 1” leather covered recoil pad.

Well Figured Walnut

The 20 lines per inch chequering is refreshed to the normal J Blanch design of fully chequered forend with a narrow unadorned border and a stock pattern that closely follows the outline of the lock plate.
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 5/8"
14 3/4"
14 7/8"
15 3/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 9/16"
1 11/16"
2 1/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
5/16" (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:
Deeley ejectors patent no. 14526 of 1884;
Perkes' ejector patent no. 10679 of 1886;
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;
 Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
 Needham & Hinton interceptor sear patent no. 706 of 1879;
Hollis's forend catch patent no 953 of 1873.