W. Leech & Son, Tindal Street,
Chelmsford, Essex
12 bore Back Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 3274
Year of manufacture: 1893

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Heritage Guns' Comment

Although this gun bears the name W Leech and Son, a highly respected East Anglian gunmaker still in existence, it was without doubt manufactured by WC Scott & Son. The gun displays Scott patents and features in nearly every mechanism, from the top extension locking bolt and forend catch to the Patent Gas Check on the breech face. Interestingly, although Scott named guns are common in the USA, there are very few seen in the UK which illustrates their business model which was to exploit export markets under their own name but be a major gunmaker 'to the trade' in the UK, rarely selling guns in the UK as Scott's. Another interesting feature of this gun is that although the lock plates are internally stamped 'Block Patent Safety', the interceptor sear is not the usual type favoured by Holland & Holland, Blanch etc but the unpatented 'spear' type favoured by John Robertson of Boss fame. It has been suggested that this gun may have been supplied 'in the white' to Robertson who brought the locks, action etc together for Leech. The Perkes patent covering the ejector and cocking rods was sold to Scott who made great use of it and the action flats bear witness to the legal fight in 1891 between Westley Richards and Perkes as it displays both their respective ejector patent numbers! Perkes won the legal battle but was bankrupted by the costs.
With its replacement barrels, rounded action, interceptor sears and new stock, this is a very safe and lovely antique gun for either clays or game.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic, top tang safety slide;
8 Pin back action bar-locks with gold lined cocking indicators;
'Robertson' style interceptor sears and Perkes cocking rods;
Toplever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a Scott Spindle;
Scott patent Gas Checks and Scott patent top rib extension bolt;
'Perkes' ejector box; Scott patent lever forend catch;
Elegant rounded action bar.
Engraving style Best Bouquet & Scroll.
Gun weight 6lb 14oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs, Rear trigger 3 ½ lbs
The Replacement Steel barrels by the Maker 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.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2016.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.031"
0.004"
(Skeet)
Left Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.736"
0.032"
0.026"
(IM)

The replacement Straight Hand Stock and Original Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut and the stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot, features well defined drop points, a yellow metal oval engraved 'DWH' and is finished with a chequered butt.
The forend has a finely engraved, steel, lever catch.

 Highly Figured walnut

The approx. 22 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its traditional 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:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
15"
15 1/4"
15 3/16"
15 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 11/16"
2 1/4"
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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Perkes cocking rod patent no 1968 of 1878;
Scott's gas check patent no. 617 of 1882;
 Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
Perkes ejector patent no 10679 of 1886;
Deeley's ejector patent no 14526 of 1884;
Scott forend lever catch patent no. 615 of 1876.