J
Blanch & Son,
29 Gracechurch Street, London
12 bore Side Lock Ejector
‘12/20’ Model
no. 6782. No.1 of Pair.
Approximate date of manufacture: 1912-13
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Please note:
Since this gun's original listing, the stock has been adjusted to
give an almost neutral cast with very slight cast-off for a
right-handed user and the drops at face and heel have been
slightly increased.
This gun is a fine example of the so-called ‘12/20’ mechanism
designed and patented in 1906 by that prolific inventor, William
Baker. This mechanism was used by a wide swathe of the British
guntrade in their better quality sidelocks and it was a very
successful design. The ‘12/20’ name comes from the writings of Sir
Gerald Burrand who wrote extensively about the gunmakers and their
designs and the name was adopted by several London gunmakers to
describe the model, notably Grant, Churchill and Lancaster. It derives
from the inherent strength of the backaction layout of the lock
parts which meant that a gun could be made very strong for its
weight and so could be built lighter, hence the idea of a 12b with
the weight of a 20b. The mechanism also provides an assisted
opening facility if the gun is wholly or partly unfired and is
only cocked when the barrels are closed, meaning the mainsprings
are at rest when the gun is broken or in parts. The action is
profusely covered with best bouquet & scroll as was the norm for
this highly respected ‘Maker in the pre-WW1 period and this
coupled with the fine original steel barrels and lovely figured
wood make it a very well balanced and 'shootable' gun for either
game or clays. Presented in its Maker’s leather case with some
accessories.
WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW
SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT
US.
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The action
is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott
Spindle' and Concealed 3rd bite;
Baker’s patented ‘12/20’
lockwork with Interceptor sears;
Baker’s patented ejectors;
Anson pushrod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 11oz
Engraving style
Best bold foliate and bouquets. Forend tip, toplever and top rib gold
inlaid ‘1’. Lock plates signed in scrolling banner ‘J BLANCH & SON’.
Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’. Forend iron stamped ‘PATENT’.
Trigger pulls
measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs.
The original steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ½ "
(65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with
soft soldered ribs.
Top rib
is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Original London proof
for 2 ½” nitro powder cartridges in 1912-13.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
RH Barrel
|
0.729"
|
0.737"
|
0.025"
|
0.011” (1/4, IC)
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LH Barrel
|
0.729"
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0.738"
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0.025"
|
0.020” (1/2, Mod)
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Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is very lightly cast-off
for a right-handed user and
features well-defined drop points, a white metal oval engraved
‘J.G.C.’ and is finished with a traditional 1” leather covered recoil
pad.
The 24 lines per inch chequering
has been refreshed to the normal sidelock pattern. 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
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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15"
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15
1/8"
|
15
1/8"
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15
5/8"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1
1/2"
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1
5/8"
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2"
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Cast-off at Comb
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Cast-off at Heel
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Negligible
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1/16-1/8" (approx.)
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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:
W Baker’s ejectors
patent no. 21967 of 1905;
W
Baker’s ‘12/20’ lockwork patent no. 26902 of 1906;
'Purdey
Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752
of 1865;
‘Purdey Concealed 3rd Bite’ patent no 397 of 1878;
Anson's
forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.