William P Jones, 25 Whittall Street, Birmingham
12 bore Back Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 1072
 Date of manufacture: 1892

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Heritage Guns' Comment


W P Jones shared the same first names as his father and was the second generation of the Jones family to be a gunmaker in the famous Birmingham gun quarter. He moved to Whittall Street shortly before this gun was built and established a thriving business, mainly manufacturing guns for the trade but producing a few bearing his own name, such as this.  The gun we have here is an excellent example of the rather better quality guns that the Birmingham trade could produce. What is very unusual is that this gun comes complete with a spare set of ejector and lock main springs.
With its highly figured walnut stock, fine damascus barrels and our sensitive restoration, this shotgun would make an excellent gun for both game and clays.
Presented in an oak and leather case, lined in red baize and fitted with some accessories,
spare strikers and a Maker’s trade label (possible reproduction).

A lovely Birmingham-made gun at the fantastic price of only $7865

On Consignment in USA with MacNab Fine Firearms

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
8 pin back action locks with interceptor sears, anti-friction rollers on main springs
and Roger’s cocking levers;
Top lever operating a Purdey bolt via a Scott Spindle; Passive top rib extension;
Southgate ejectors; Anson pushrod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 11oz.     
Balance point is 1.4” in front of the hinge pin.            
Engraving style Foliate scroll with panels of ‘Art Nouveau’ style foliate design.
Locks signed ‘W P JONES’ in a scrolling banner.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
The original damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ½ ” (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of smooth, concave, game type. The bores are clean and free of pitting.
Birmingham re-proof for 2 ½” nitro cartridges in 1955.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction


Right Barrel
0.729"
0.734"
0.027"
0.007" (IC)

Left Barrel
0.729"
0.736"
0.025"
0.036" (Full)

The Original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend is crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval and is finished with a well matched 7/8” walnut extension.  The forend is fitted with an engraved steel tip.

Highly Figured Walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to the original sidelock 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 5/8"
14 5/8"
14 5/8"
15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 11/16"
2 3/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
3/8" (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:

Roger's lockwork & cocking levers patent no 397 of 1881;
Southgate’s ejector patent no 12314 of 1889;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Anson forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.