John Dickson & Son, 63 Princes Street, Edinburgh
12 bore Round Action Ejector
no. 4373 (No 2 of pair)

Year of production: 1890

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun is a lovely example of the famous round action shotguns that Dicksons is renowned for.
One does not have to look very hard to appreciate the loveliness of this gun. Complete with damascus barrels and a brand new stock, both of excellent dimensions, this is a very desirable gun. What is amazing is it is actually a composition of two quite separate guns: the barrels and forend of no 4654 and the action of no 4373. These were brought together sometime in the past but the project was not really finished. We have spent 18 months making someone's dream a reality and are most pleased with the results. One interesting detail are the 'Grouse Chokes', i.e. tighter in the RH barrel, which, given the gun's Scottish heritage, is satisfyingly appropriate!
Coupled with excellent barrel and stock dimensions, this makes her a very pretty and safe gun for either game or clays.
Presented in a brass cornered, leather case with reproduction trade 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 Dickson's triggerplate action design and features:
Double triggers;
Rounded action bar with Dickson's patent cocking slide;
Gold washed cocking indicators;
Top tang mounted automatic safety slide;
Finely chiselled fences;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Top rib extension with third bite;
Dickson's patent ejectors;
Anson forend catch.
Engraving style Best Foliate Scroll;
'JOHN DICKSON & SON PATENT' in scrolling banner on action bar;
Gold inlayed SAFE on top tang;
'2' engraved on forend iron and top rib and inlaid in silver on forend wood.
Gun weight 7lb
Trigger pulls
measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lb
The damascus 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 smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2015.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.729")
0.730"
0.028"
0.016" (Mod)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.729")
0.736"
0.027"
0.006" (IC)

The replacement Straight-hand Grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The forend features a finely engraved steel tip and an inlaid silver '2'. The stock is finished with a chequered butt and features a vacant silver oval. The stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot.


Highly Figured walnut

The approx. 20 lines per inch chequering has been cut to its original 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
15"
15 3/16"
15 1/8"
15 7/16"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 3/8"
1 1/2"
2 1/8"
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:
Dickson's cocking patent no. 294 of 1880;
Dickson's ejector patent 10621 of 1887;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.