Julius Coster, 108 Rose Street, Edinburgh
No Visible Number
Date of manufacture: Pre-1898
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Julius Coster (1850-1927) was a
noted Scottish gunsmith and inventor. His father was a German
gunmaker in Niedermeister, under whom Julius studied before he
immigrated to Britain in 1869 and by the following year had found
employment with Alexander Henry. By 1886 he had become the foreman
of Henry's workshop and had patented am improvement to the Martini
Henry rifle. Soon after, he went into business with a Mr Hunter
and then worked for himself. He moved to Glasgow in 1898.
This sweet little gun is unusual in that it carries 30" barrels,
quite rare in a 20b, excellent minimum wall thickness and very
useful choke constrictions. With its lovely Damascus barrels and
great stock dimensions, this lovely gun would be ideal for upland
game or clays.
Presented in its Maker's canvas and leather case with Maker's
trade label.
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 Anson &
Deeley's boxlock design and features:
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Three point bolting including top rib extension;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide
and a Hackett style forend catch.
There is a vintage repair to the hidden part of the trigger plate.
Gun weight 5lb 11oz
Engraving style Fine Scroll Engraving with action signed by the
Maker. Gold inlaid 'SAFE' at safety slide.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 3 ¾ lbs
The Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2
1/2" (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed dovetail lump construction
with soft soldered ribs. Bores are clean and bright.
Top rib is of the concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 2 ½" nitro powder cartridges
in 1990.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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Right Barrel |
15.9mm
0.626"
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0.627"
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0.032"
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0.002"
(Skeet)
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Left Barrel |
16.1mm
0.634"
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0.636"
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0.031"
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0.020"
(IM)
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The replacement straight hand grip stock and splinter forend
are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast-off
for a right-handed Gun. It features a white metal oval engraved 'DWH'
and is finished with a chequered butt. The stock carries a few small
handling marks.
The forend, thought to be the original wood, has an engraved
steel tip. There are two small vintage inlet repairs to the forend edge
and further small chip to the forend edge near the knuckle.
The 22 approx. lines per inch chequering is
cut to a normal boxlock stock pattern.
The stock has been lightly refinished with a traditional linseed
oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English
makers.
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 3/16"
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15 1/8"
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15 1/2"
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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 3/8"
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1 5/8"
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2 3/8"
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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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1/4" (approximate)
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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:
Anson & Deeley's boxlock patent no. 1756 of 1875;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
Hackett forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.