Hardy Bros, 61 Pall Mall, London, SW
12 bore Back action, Sidelock non ejector
No visible number.
Approximate date of manufacture: 1880-81

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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun represents an example in unusually fine condition of the early hammerless guns that were becoming more accepted in the last quarter of the 19th Century and a rare chance to buy a gun retailed by this little known gunmaker. The gun exhibits a wealth of innovative patents from the period and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a fascinating and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. This gun comes complete with a tooled, leather case in very good external condition, fitted with new straps. Internally, the case has been relined with new 'Burgundy' all wool baize, carries a Heritage Guns trade label and is fitted out with ebony and brass tools including 3 turnscrews mounted in a hand made oak block and a two part cleaning rod. The case is further equipped with a spare set of dedicated strikers in a horn striker pot, pewter oil bottle and set of cleaning tools in a leather wallet. The Heritage Guns' package would not be complete without a unique leather bound Companion and a hand crafted pair of personalised Heritage Guns Damascus snapcaps. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of Scott & Baker design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Back action locks,
Patent Crystal Indicators,
Interceptor sears,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle',
Scott & Baker cocking rods running from the action knuckle to the breasts of the tumblers.
Gun weight 6lb 7oz
Engraving style Best fine scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front 5lb Rear 4lb

The 'invisibly sleeved' barrels are 28" 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 2003.
The address on the sleeved barrels infers that this gun may have been sleeved by the makers as the gun dates from before Hardy had a London address but the sleeving is concurrent with this address.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are the original figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot. There is a repaired crack in the toe of the stock which shows as a black line.

The 20 lines per inch chequering has been re-cut to the original 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:

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:
Scott & Baker action patent no. 761 of 1878,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Needham & Hinton interceptor sears patent no. 706 of 1879,
Scott's cocking indicators patent no. 3223 of 1875,
Scott's forend fastener patent no. 615 of 1876,
Scott & Tonks' safety trigger block no. 3883 of 1879 (provisional)
and last but not least
Henry's snap cap patent no. 3257 of 1870.