Edward Paton & Son, 44 George Street, Perth, Scotland
20 bore Back-action, Sidelever Hammergun
no. 2855
 Year of manufacture: pre-1886
(based of Anson forend catch patent marking)

    

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

This hammergun represents a lovely example of the small bore sporting hammerguns that were marketed primarily for young persons and ladies in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Usually these guns originate from the Birmingham trade but it has been suggested that this example was made in London, probably by the better end of the trade. Not only does it feature an elegant sidelever, of the same mechanical style as the likes of Grant and Boss, but ‘Island’ locks, usually associated with Purdey, and engraving of a style most associated with Sumner who engraved nearly all the C19th Boss guns.
The gun was rebarrelled by P Webley & Son between 1896 and 1904 and then sleeved in 1993. This was before the advent of the TIG or Laser welded joint and sadly the soft soldered joint exhibits some bleaching.
The original dark walnut is highly figured, internally the gun is very well finished and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Presented in a navy blue baize relined canvas & leather case with a Heritage Guns trade label and some accessories.

A really sweet gun at only £5750

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers;
Stanton patent rebounding back-action ‘Island’ locks with high level, ‘Hare’s Ear’ hammers;
Finely carved percussion fences; Rounded bar;
Side lever opening, operating a 'Purdey’ bolt;
Anson’s pushrod forend fastening.
 Engraving style Fine foliate scroll, possibly by Sumner. Locks signed ‘E. PATON & SON’.
Gun weight 5lb 10oz         The gun balances about 3/16” behind the hinge pin.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
 The soft-solder sleeved steel to steel 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 convex, smooth, game style..
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 1993.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

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

 Right Barrel
15.8mm (0.622")
0.622"
0.033"
0.007" (IC)

Left Barrel
15.8mm (0.622")
0.624"
0.035"
0.015" (Mod)

The original straight hand Stock and Splinter Forend are 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 1” leather covered recoil pad.
The forend has a finely engraved steel tip.

Highly Figured Walnut

The approx. 20 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its original 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 1/4"
14 3/8"
14 3/8"
14 3/4"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 3/4"
2 3/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
1/16" Approximate
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:

 Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
  'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
 Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.