William Powell & Son, 13 Carrs Lane, Birmingham
12 bore Sidelock
Ejector no. 9622.
Date of manufacture: 1893.
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment
This gun is the most extraordinary example of conservatism
within the shooting world from the last decade of the C19th.
The new gun was specified as ‘best finish’ and ‘safety not
automatic’ but amazingly with ‘external false hammers’ and
‘knob fixed on guard same as on double grip lever’. It was
ordered by Spear & Jackson, a highly successful gardening tool
manufacturer, for a T K Watson who was obviously a hammergun
devotee but perhaps tempted by the novelty of a sidelock
ejector for ease of use and speed of fire. Having an automatic
safety was obviously a step too far and the mechanism was made
manual by the simple expedient of filing off the end of the
activating pushrod! In fact it is fairly certain that the
hammers were added to an already finished SLE as there are
file marks on the lock plates from when the hammers were
retro-fitted, marring the hardening colour on the inner
surfaces. The ‘knob fixed on guard’ possibly did not survive
long (if ever fitted) and it is interesting to note the slight
mismatch of engraving on the bow of the triggerguard. When we
acquired this gun the barrel walls were terribly thin and TIG
sleeving was the only practical solution. Furthermore, the
cocking/ejection mechanism had been incorrectly adjusted at
some time so we had a considerable amount of re-regulation
work to do. Finally we have returned the safe mechanism to
automatic in the interest of safety in the field. The gun is
presented in its original ‘Best Leather Case’, stamped T.K.W.
SHEFFIELD, relined in best wool baize and fitted with several
tools and accessories.
With its highly figured original walnut stock, TIG sleeved barrels and sensitive restoration, this shotgun is a fascinating and rare chance to become the guardian of a unique piece of gunmaking history. Presented in its Makers’ Leather & Brass case with some named accessories. Fantastic value, reduced
to $7995 On Consignment in USA with MacNab Fine Firearms
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The
action is of normal sidelock design and features:
Non-operational hammers;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top
tang safety slide;
9 pin Bar action locks cocked by Roger’s levers
with interceptor sears;
Top lever operating a Purdey bolt via a
Scott Spindle;
‘Doll’s Head’ top rib extension giving a third bite;
Deeley ejectors;
Anson pushrod forend catch.
Gun
weight
6lb 14oz
Engraving style
Best Foliate Scroll. Gold inlaid SAFE on top tang.
Trigger
pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger
4 lbs
The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels are
30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ ” (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed
'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is concave and
‘engine turned’. The bores are clean and free of pitting.
Birmingham re-proof for 70mm
nitro cartridges in 2018.
Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech |
Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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18.3mm (0.720")
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0.723+"
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0.033"
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0.010" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.3mm (0.720")
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0.724+"
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0.031"
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0.020"
(Mod)
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Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval, well defined drop points and is fitted with a 3/4” leather covered recoil pad. There are minor settling cracks at the lock tails due to shrinkage.
The forend is fitted with a finely engraved steel tip and has a fine crack to the wood near the ejector box.
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Highly Figured Walnut
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The 22 lines per inch chequering is refreshed
to its 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:
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Pull to Heel
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 7/8"
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14 7/8"
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15"
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15 1/2"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 1/2"
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1 5/8"
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2"
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Cast-off at Comb
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Cast-off at Heel
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Negligible
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1/8" (approximate)
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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 cocking levers patent no 397 of 1882;
'Purdey Bolt'
patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of
1865;
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
Deeley's
ejector patent no. 4289 of 1886;
Anson's forend fastener patent no.
3791 of 1872.