Robert Roper, Son & Co, 13 Broad
St, Park, Sheffield, Yorkshire
12 bore Sidelock Non-Ejector
no. 30540
Date of manufacture: 1878-87
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Robert Roper was in business in
Sheffield from around 1878 until the early 1940's, probably killed
off by the materials shortage during the 2nd WW. We have seen
several guns by him over the years and they are characterised
by simple, unostentatious engraving and the use of the very best
in trade actions and design. This gun is built on the highly successful
Gibbs and Pitt design of lever cocking action, one of the first
hammerless designs to be welcomed by the shooting public in the
gradual changeover from hammerguns. Use of this action by Roper
reflects the high esteem the Gibbs & Pitt action design was
held in by the buying public at the time. It was well designed,
solidly built and retailed by nearly all gunmakers of the period.
The action cocks on the movement of the sidelever and then this
is aided by the dropping of the barrels as the barrel lumps cam
the 'Purdey Bolt' rearwards, which in turn works upon the tumblers
to bring them to full cock. This makes it quite impossible to
reload the gun without recocking the locks and resetting the safety,
a useful safety feature.
Unusually for a gun of this age, the full/full chokes of the original
gun have survived the attentions of the gunsmith's lapping machine
and combined with its super strong, straight grain, replacement
stock and thick barrel walls, they make this a serious gun for
trap, live pigeon and wildfowling. A further safety feature is
that the safety blocks the sear tails as well as the trigger blades.
The original English damascus barrels have been re-proofed for
2 3/4" nitro cartridges and this all adds up to a beautiful
gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many years of service
on game or clays with normal maintenance.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action is of Gibbs &
Pitt design and features:
Much original hardening colour;
Bar-action 'Leg of Mutton' locks;
Disc-set strikers;
Side lever opening with a double bite Purdey Bolt;
Double triggers & sear tails bolted by an automatic top tang safety
slide
and a Hackett forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 10oz
Engraving style Foliate Scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½lbs
Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The original damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered
for 2 3/4" (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 2007.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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Right Barrel |
18.8mm (0.740")
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0.740"
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0.030"
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0.040" (Full)
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Left Barrel |
18.8mm (0.740")
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0.741"
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0.028"
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0.040" (Full)
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The replacement straight hand Stock is crafted
from lightly figured, straight grain walnut; the original splinter
Forend from highly figured walnut.
The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features
a vacant white metal oval and an engraved iron butt plate attached
with engraved screws.
The forend features an engraved steel forend tip and diamond.
There are inlet repairs to its edge.
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Replacement
Walnut Stock & Original Forend
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The 20 approx lines per inch chequering has
been freshened to the 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
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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 1/4"
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14 1/2"
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14 1/2"
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15"
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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 3/4"
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2 1/8"
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Cast-on at Comb
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Cast-on at Heel
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Negligible
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1/16" approx
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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:
Gibbs & Pitt cocking patent no. 284 of 1873;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Hackett forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.