Stephen Grant, 67A St James's Street,
London
12 bore Trigger Plate Extractor Shotgun
no. 5276 (No 2 of pair)
Year of production: 1883
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This gun is a lovely example of
the quite rare Horatio Phillips patent coil spring, trigger plate
shotguns that Stephen Grant produced for a short period in the
early 1880's. Interestingly when this gun came to us from another
gunsmith in the UK trade, it had no forend at all and the barrels
had been painted with black enamel! Investigation with gentle
brushing coupled with paint solvent revealed a beautiful set of
damascus tubes which we have reproofed for 2 ¾" nitro
and carefully re-browned. The action and replacement stock cleaned
up nicely but this left us without the distinctive Grant forend.
However a total freak of chance reunited the gun with it very
own forend when it turned up mixed with various other forends
found at another gunsmith's workshop!
We have carefully cleaned and regulated the internal mechanism
including fitting a new side lever spring and, coupled with excellent
barrel and stock dimensions, it makes this gun a very pretty and
safe tool for either game or clays.
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 Phillip's design
and features:
Double triggers;
Rounded action bar;
Lever cocked, coil mainsprings;
Breech face 'Gas Check';
Top tang mounted automatic safety slide;
Finely chiselled fluted fences;
Side lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Anson forend catch.
Engraving style Best Foliate Scroll (probably by Sumner); 'PATENT'
engraved on top of action; Gold inlaid SAFE on top tang; Fluted fences;
'2' engraved on trigger guard, forend iron and top rib.
Gun weight 6lb 13oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 4 lb.
The damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2
¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'through' lump construction
with soft soldered ribs. There are a very few vestigial pits in both
barrels.
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2014.
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")
|
0.734"
|
0.025" Minimum
|
0.011" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
18.6mm (0.732")
|
0.734"
|
0.024" Minimum
|
0.012" (IC)
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The replacement Straight-hand Grip Stock and original Splinter
Forend are crafted from figured walnut. The forend features
a finely engraved steel tip and bold figure.
The stock is finished with 1" leather covered recoil pad,
features a vacant white metal oval, well defined drop points and is
cast-off for a right-handed shot.
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
to its 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
|
14 1/8"
|
14 1/4"
|
14 1/2"
|
15 1/8"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 9/16"
|
1 11/16"
|
2 1/4"
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
1/8" (approximate)
|
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:
H Phillips' action design no. 4809 of 1879;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.