Heritage Guns Update 27th February, 2025
We are now only 8 weeks from The Southern Side by Side Championship & Exhibition in North Carolina and I am writing to inform you of the guns that I will be exhibiting there.
I am hugely disappointed that I will be unable to join you in person as I have to have surgery for prostate cancer in late March and that precludes me from any long haul flights until after the show. However, my booth will be in its usual place in the sponsors tent and my good friends Bob Nay of MacNab Fine Firearms and J-P Daeschler of John Dickson will be minding my stall on my behalf. I hope to have the usual laminated information sheets with all my stock guns so please help yourself to the information contained therein but please don’t remove them. Please be mindful that J-P and Bob have their own businesses to run and be patient when requesting any additional information.
The guns that I am shipping out shortly are as follows:
Firstly, a spectacularly rare Kell engraved, 12b back action SLE by J Blanch & Son. With ‘Centenary Model’ engraved on its top rib, fine French walnut and Whitworth steel chopperlump barrels, this is a really amazing gun and I have no doubt that there will be a lot of interest in it.
1913
Kell engraved J Blanch & Son 12b BA SLE no 6809
J Blanch & Son no 6809 in its leather case.
Next, we have a very nice damascus barrelled, sidelock ejector by the famous W P Jones of Birmingham. With its 30” x 2 ½” nitro reproof barrel and highly figured stock, it is a very nice gun at a sensible price.
1892
W P Jones 12b BA SLE no 1072
W P Jones no 1072 in its Oak & Leather case.
And last but very much not least, a truly beautiful,
sidelever, damascus barrelled 16b hammergun by William Tanton of Tenterden, Kent.
This is a very high quality gun, my guess is that it was built in London by the
top of the trade for William. The engraving is very similar to Sumner’s style
on a whole generation of Boss hammerguns and I think there is a very good
chance that it was engraved by the great man.
Circa
1874 William Tanton 16b sidelever hammergun no 503
W Tanton 16b Hgun in its Leather & Brass case
Also to be exhibited at the Southern are the following:
First up is a gorgeous 1890 Holland & Holland 1st Type Royal with two sets of barrels, both 30”, one 2 ½” Nitro and the other 3” Nitro (1200 bar). Presented in a leather case blocked for both sets of barrels. This is an absolutely delicious example of H&H’s premier model. It features the best level of engraving and with its two sets of barrels can handle everything from soft, 2 ½” x 3/4oz up to the occasional 3” wildfowling load (not Superior Steel).
Holland & Holland Royal 12b SLE no 12561
Holland & Holland Royal 12b SLE no 12561 in its leather case with both barrel sets.
Then we have
a spectacular, true pair of James Purdey hammerguns in their original, relined
case. To find a complete pair of hammerguns is very rare indeed and we restored
these in parallel to maintain the true pair ethos and keep them exactly the
same in all respects. I know that pairs of guns aren’t everybody’s cup of tea
but these guns’ rarity and magnificence makes them a must for any serious
double gun collector. They would make a fantastic pair of travelling guns:
beautifully simple, of the highest quality and surely would be the stand-out
guns in any shooting event. Furthermore they are compatible with standard pressure,
steel shot cartridges.
1871
Pair of James Purdey 12b Hammerguns no. 8521 & 8522
Next, with lots of original colour, chopperlump Whitworth
steel barrels and a very smart ‘Rifle Green’ relined case is another Holland
& Holland Royal 12b. Nitro reproof 30” x 2 ½” x Cyl/IC
and a 15 3/8” replacement highly figured stock.
1891
Holland & Holland 12b Royal SLE no 12860
1891
H&H no. 12860 in its Leather and Brass case.
Lastly, we are still looking for a suitable guardian for the lovely William Powell SLE no 9622. This gun is not only a fascinating insight into the way the bespoke gun trade worked but also a truly lovely gun. If you haven’t heard about this gun: it was ordered with non-functioning hammers and various other features from the hammergun era. These hammers were easily removeable so we have put them safely in their case and made up engraved blanking plugs for the mounting posts. They can easily be refitted if the new owner so wishes.
William Powell & Son 12b SLE no 9622 (with hammers fitted)
William Powell & Son 12b SLE no 9622 (with hammers replaced by engraved blanking discs)
And looking forward, here we have a selection of the
goodies that I am working on….
Stock No.
341 1879 John Dickson & Son 12b damascus barrelled back action hammergun. 30” x 2 ½” nitro reproof. 14 ½” highly figured stock inc. 1” leather covered recoil pad. A lovely gun by the preeminent Scottish Maker.
340 1880 J
Rigby & Co 12b damascus barrelled, underlever, sidelock ejector, 30” x 2 ½”nitro
reproof. 14 ¾” highly figured replacement stock inc. 1” leather covered recoil
pad. New forend wood. A classic ‘Rising Bite’ Rigby.
339 1898 J MacNaughton 12b
‘Edinburgh’ round action ejector, 28” x 2 ½” nitro steel
replacement barrels by J Dickson & Son, 14 5/8”
well figured stock inc. 1” leather covered recoil pad.
This is a very clean gun with crisp engraving. With its replacement barrels and
fine dimensions it would make a lovely gun for game or clays.
333 1891 Stephen
Grant 12b sidelock ejector, sleeved 30” x 2 ¾” nitro reproof barrels, 14 ¾”
highly figured stock inc. 1” leather covered recoil pad. Lots of original
hardening colour on action and locks.
331 1887 Holland & Holland 16b Royal sidelock ejector, 28” x 2 ¾” nitro modern replacement, chopperlump barrels; 15 3/8” spectacularly figured replacement stock and forend wood. This is the most startling rebuilt gun. Someone spent a fortune on rebarrelling and restocking this little beauty and we will be offering it for a fraction of what must have been paid!
330 1885-92
Chas Osborne & Co 28b back action hammergun. Sleeved 28” x 2 ¾” nitro
reproof barrels. 14 ¾” well figured
stock inc. 1” leather covered recoil pad. A cute little gun, built as a 20b and
recently sleeved down to 28b.
And so on it goes: lots more guns in the restoration
process, visit http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/stock.htm.
I have also recently updated my case listings and would
suggest that you tour my offerings if you are looking for a case for your
treasured possession! Full listing can be found at http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Cases/Case%20Stock.htm.
A few worthy of mention are:
Stock No.
051528 Holland
& Holland double leather gun case. A lovely case lined with original ‘Rifle
Green’ baize, blocked for up to 30 ½” barrels and 17 1/2” breech to butt, 2
lidded compartments and provision for oil bottle, snapcaps and cleaning rod.
061590 Boss & Co double hammergun/hammerless
case. Beautiful original crimson baize lining blocked for 30” barrels and 17 ¼”
breech to butt. 2 lidded compartments.
101126 Westley
Richards single leather hammergun case. Original green baize lining with full complement
of labels. Blocked for 30” barrels and 18” breech to butt. In need of some
restitching to the lid corners.
271416 Very
rare double sided mahogany and leather gun case, possibly built for Live Pigeon
shooting: blocked for a single hammerless gun with 30” barrels and 17 ¼” breech
to heel. Opposite side takes up to 96 x 12b cartridges. Lined in purple velvet
with new handle and captive straps. This case is of the highest quality and is
a must for someone with the appropriate gun to go inside!
Gun side:
Cartridge side:
Outside:
Well, that is about it for now.
Keep safe and enjoy the spring!
Very best regards,
Toby Barclay
Historic Guns For The Modern Sportsman
