Gray & Co, Union Street, Inverness
12 bore Box Lock Ejector
No. 41497

Approximate date of manufacture: 1920's

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun is an unusually good condition example of the Anson & Deeley boxlock that had become such a hugely successful design by the last decade of the 19th Century. The open chokes suggest that this gun was built at a driven grouse or partridge gun and given its Scottish origins, most likely the former. The action is covered with bold foliate scroll with feathered border, a very Scottish detail, and this coupled with our sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and '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 Anson & Deeley boxlock design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle',
Three point bolting including top extension,
Tumbler and sear ejectors to 'Deeley' design tripped by slides running from the action knuckle to the main springs.
Gun weight 6lb 10oz
Engraving style Bold foliate scroll with a broad feathered border.
Trigger pulls measure approximately:

Front trigger 4 1/2lb Rear trigger 4 1/2lb

The original steel barrels are 28 7/8" 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.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2007.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5 mm (0.728")
0.728"
0.030" Minimum
Cyl
Left Barrel
18.5 mm (0.728")
0.729"
0.028" Minimum
0.010" (1/4)

Straight Hand Stock (possibly a replacement) and Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut with a 1 1/4" walnut extension, well defined drop points and a silver oval. The stock is moderately cast-off for a right-handed shot.

Well figured walnut.

The 20 lines per inch chequering is to normal boxlock design .
The stock is finished with a traditional, hand rubbed linseed oil based preparation.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
15 1/2"
15 1/2"
15 1/2"
16"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 5/8"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
5/16" (approximate)
7/16" (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:
Anson & Deeley's boxlock patent no. 1756 of 1875,
Deeley's ejectors patent no. 4289 of 1886,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,

Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.