Stephen Grant, 67A St James's Street, London
12 bore Trigger Plate Extractor Shotgun
no. 5276 (No 2 of pair)

Year of production: 1883



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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.

 

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)


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.

Figured walnut

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)

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.