J Blanch and Son, 29 Gracechurch Street, London
12 bore Back action, Sidelock Ejector
'Centenary Model'
no. 6809
Date of manufacture: 1913

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Heritage Guns' Comment


John Blanch was born in 1784 and at the age of 16 was apprenticed to Jackson Mortimer, a prestigious London gunmaker. Having completed his apprenticeship, he left to work for the famous John Manton for a couple of years and finally set up on his own in 1813. It is this date that the ‘Centenary Model’ commemorates.
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 all the examples of this rare model that I have seen have celebrated this tradition. In keeping with the significance of the event, the famous Harry Kell was commissioned to engrave these guns and the effect is quite breathtaking.
Interestingly, the barrels are ‘Grouse Choked’, the back locks are rebounding, much like a late hammergun, and the bolting mechanism uses a modified Scott Spindle to actuate the Purdey Bolt and a sliding bolt to engage the hidden 'Dolls Head' top extension giving the bolting additional mechanical advantage.
Fine French walnut and Whitworth chopperlump steel barrels complete this Best gun and with its beautiful engraving style, fine balance, interceptor sears and vault-like lockup, it would make a safe and beautiful gun for upland game or clays.
Presented in a modern ‘Brady’ style leather case, lined in Burgundy baize, with some accessories
and an original Blanch trade label.

A very rare gun at the fantastic price of only £5990

The action is of traditional design and features:
Disc-set strikers; Gold lined cocking indicators;
Cocking levers running from the forend iron to breasts of the tumblers;
Nine pin, back-action, rebounding sidelocks; Interceptor sears;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Top lever operating a ‘Purdey Bolt’ by way of a modified ‘Scott Spindle’;
Top extension giving a 3rd bite;
‘Southgate’ ejectors, featuring the Beasley patent trip;
Blanch style, modified Hollis forend lever catch. 
Gun weight 6lb 12oz   
Balance point is 0.4” behind the hinge pin.           
Engraving style 100% coverage Harry Kell bold foliate. Gold inlayed SAFE.
Locks signed ‘J BLANCH & SON’. Locks stamped internally ‘E Chilton & Son’.
Top rib engraved ‘CENTENARY MODEL’ & ‘WHITWORTH STEEL’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
 The Whitworth steel barrels are 29" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ ” (70mm) cartridges and are of chopperlump construction with soft soldered ribs. A few very small marks in bores.
Top rib is of smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2019.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

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


Right Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.733"
0.023"
0.010" (IC)

Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.024"
0.003" (Skeet)

The Original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend is crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast-off for the right hand shot, features a vacant gold oval and a well matched 1 ½” walnut extension.

Highly Figured Walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to the original 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
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
15"
15 1/4"
15 1/8"
15 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 3/8"
1 9/16"
2"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
Negligible
3/16" (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:

'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Southgate ejector patent no 12314 of 1889,
 Beesley ejector patent no 20979 of 1889,
Hollis’s forend catch patent no 953 of 1873.