Stephen Grant, 67a St James's Street,
London
12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 5800, No 2 of pair
Date of manufacture: 1888
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This is a superb example of a Best
London sidelock ejector from this highly respected gunmaker, made
in the heyday of the British gun trade. This gun may well have
been made originally as a non-ejector, converted in the 1890's,
very probably in John Robertson's workshops (later the owner of
Boss & Co). It should be remembered that Grant SLE's made
up to 1900 often have a very delicate ejector trip mechanism that
may need occasional maintenance.
A skilled stocker has professionally replaced the stock at some
time and although not exotic in its figure, it has excellent dimensions.
The 30 1/4" barrels appear to have been originally proofed
for 2 3/4" nitro cartridges and although still in proof,
we have re-proofed them to ensure their safety. This all adds
up to a strong gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many
years of service on game or clays with normal maintenance.
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
bar action sidelock design and features:
Side lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt',
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Bar action locks, Roger's cocking levers,
Disk set strikers,
Coil spring ejectors tripped by slides in the bar of action
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 7lb
Engraving style Best fine foliate scroll. Finely carved action bar.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/2lbs Rear
trigger 4lbs
The Damascus barrels are 30 1/4" in length, chambered for
2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'through' lump construction
with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.
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
|
Right Barrel |
18.7mm (0.736")
|
0.737"
|
0.023" Minimum
|
0.002" (Skeet)
|
Left Barrel |
18.7mm (0.736")
|
0.739"
|
0.023" Minimum
|
0.020" (Mod)
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The Replacement Straight
Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a right-handed
shot; features well defined drop points, a vacant white metal oval and
a crosscut butt. The forend has one inlet repair to its edge and has
an engraved diamond and steel tip.
The approximately 20 lines per inch chequering
has been freshened to a normal bordered 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:
Pull to Heel
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
14 3/8"
|
14 7/16"
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14 1/2"
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15 1/8"
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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 3/8"
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1 9/16"
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2 1/16"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast 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:
Roger's cocking levers patent no 397 of 1882,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Holland & Robertson's ejector patents 5834 and 11623 of 1887,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.