Forrest
& Son,
Jedburgh
16 bore Bar Action Sidelock Hammergun
No visible number (barrel number 28334)
Approximate date
of production: pre-1887
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun represents an unusually fine condition example of the early sporting centrefire hammergun that displaced the pinfire guns of the 1860's and '70's. The 'Jones Rotary Underlever' exhibited here was hugely successful, being used well into the 19th Century especially for double rifles, big bore shotguns and wildfowling guns as it is one of the simplest and strongest actions ever devised. All gunmakers, both modest and most venerated, utilized it extensively during the transition from muzzle loaders to breech loaders and if Henry Jones had only maintained the patent protection on his design, he would have become a very wealthy man. The gun balances almost exactly on the hinge pin and with substantial traces of original colour hardening still visible on the action, coupled with our sensitive restoration, it is a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US. |
The action is of traditional sidelock design
and features:
Traces of original colour hardening on the action,
Bar action sidelocks by Stanton,
Rebounding hammers,
Sprung strikers,
'Jones' rotary underlever opening incorporating a tensioning spring,
'Wedge' forend fastener,
Double triggers,
All screws & pins in perfect order,
Yellow metal barrel bead and stock escutcheon.
Gun weight 6lb 10oz
Engraving style Fine border & scrollwork.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front
trigger 5lbs Rear trigger 4 1/2lb (these can be
regulated to suit the buyers requirements)
Balance point is almost exactly on the hinge pin.
The bold Damascus barrels are
30 1/4" in length, chambered for 2
¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail'
lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth,
concave, game type.
There are some minor vestigial
pits in both tubes but only one pit of any substance: 3" from the
breech in the right barrel. None of these pits represent any hazard
providing appropriate cleaning is carried out after use.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder
cartridges in 2005.
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 |
17.3mm (0.681")
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0.680"
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0.027" Minimum
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0.012" (3/8)
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| Left Barrel |
17.2mm (0.677")
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0.679"
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0.026" Minimum
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0.007" (3/16)
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The Straight Hand Stock is slightly cast-off for a right-handed shot and is finished with a horn butt plate (small chip to toe of plate). The Splinter Forend has a 'Wedge' (aka Cross Bolt) fastening and a sculpted horn tip. Both the forend and lightly figured stock are most probably the original walnut.
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Lightly figured walnut
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The 18 lines per inch
chequering is cut to a normal sidelock 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:
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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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14 1/4"
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14 3/8"
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14 1/4"
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14 3/4"
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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 5/8"
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2"
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2 5/8"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible
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3/16" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867
'Jones Rotary Underlever'
patent no. 2040 of 1859,