James Lang & Company, 102 New Bond Street, London
Matched Pair of 12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejectors
No's. 10411 & 10632

Dates of manufacture: 1891 & 1893

Gun No. 1 (10411)

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Gun No. 2 (10632)

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Cased Pair

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Heritage Guns' Comment

The younger son of the famous Joseph Lang, James was the prolific inventor of the family and much of the innovation associated with company of Joseph Lang was actually designed by James.
James left the family business to set up on his own in 1887 and guns that carry his name are few and far between. This pair of sidelock ejectors are therefore very rare beasts indeed and it is remarkable that they have survived in such good condition. The earlier of the two guns was rebarrelled in Joseph Lang's workshops sometime between 1954 and 1972 and the later one restocked at some point and they make a very handsome pair of Best English sidelocks in their oak & leather case. The lockwork is by the famous lockmakers 'Chilton' and the action bars carry an 'E.C.Hodges Patent' stamp. It is suggested that the Hodges stamp refers to the novel ejector trip rods that extend from the tumbler pivots to the knuckle.
Reproofed to 2 ¾" nitro, these are safe and beautifully balanced tools for 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 contemporary design and features:
Very Best bouquet and scroll engraving with Serpentine fences;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Bar action locks with cocking indicators;
Roger's patent cocking levers; Disc set, sprung strikers;
Holland & Holland style interceptor sears;
Top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Holland & Robertson's patent ejector, split extractors
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weights No. 1 6 lb 8 oz No. 2 6 lb 6 ½ oz
Engraving style
Very Best Bouquet & Scroll; Finely carved Serpentine fences; Top lever & top rib with gold inlayed '1' & '2'; Forend iron similarly engraved.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: No.1 Front & Rear triggers 4lbs, No.2 Front 3 1/2lbs Rear 4 1/2lbs
The steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction with soft soldered ribs. Top ribs are of the smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.



Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
10411 (No.1)
RH 18.5mm / 0.728"
LH 18.6mm / 0.732"
0.730"
0.732"
Both 0.030" Minimum
0.004" (Skeet)
0.020" (Mod)
10632 (No.2)
RH 18.6mm / 0.732"
LH 18.8mm / 0.740"
0.735"
0.739"
RH 0.020" Minimum
LH 0.019" Minimum
0.006" (Skeet)
0.012" (IC)

Straight Hand Stocks and Splinter Forends are crafted from highly figured walnut. The forend wood on 10632 has had a surface repair to the knuckle area. We think that No.1's stock is original while No.2's is a replacement. The forend woods look to be original.

No. 1
Highly figured walnut
No. 2
Well figured walnut

 

 

The approx 24 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to normal sidelock pattern. The stocks are cast off for a right-handed shot, feature vacant yellow metal ovals and well defined drop points and are finished with horn butt plates secured by engraved screws.
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 (No.1/No.2):

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/8" (both)
14 3/8" (both)
14 7/16"/14 1/2"
14 15/16"/15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 5/8" / 1 9/16"
1 3/4" (Both)
2 7/16" / 2 3/16"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
3/16"/1/8" (approximate)
3/8"/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:
Holland & Robertson's interceptor sears patent no. 5834 of 1887,
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 16691 of 1888,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.