Heritage Guns Update 7th February 2019
In the last few hours I have uploaded details of the remaining four guns
to be exhibited at the British Shooting Show 15th-17th February.
The first is a very pretty 1891 SLE by the great Frederick Beesley who, as many
of you will know, invented the self-opening action in 1880 that Purdey have
been making ever since!
Replacement 28" barrels and a very nice replacement stock make this a
really shootable gun for game or clays.
Frederick
Beesley (From Purdey’s) 12b SLE no 1237
Next is the very interesting Holland & Holland No 2 Royal from 1892 that
I have mentioned before. Filling the gap between the 1st type Royal and the
later No.2 Royal, it has features from both which makes it a very rare beast.
Holland
& Holland 12b No 2 Royal no 14495 in its relined leather and brass
case.
Holland
& Holland 12b No 2 Royal no 14495
Third gun is a lovely 16b 1879 hammergun by Joseph Lang & Sons.
30" TIG sleeved barrels, a beautiful replacement stock and superb
engraving make this a very attractive gun.
Joseph
Lang & Sons 16b Hammergun no 5887
Last is the 1893 William Powell & Son SLE with non-functioning hammers
that I have been working on for some time now. This is probably a completely
unique gun, certainly by this highly respected gunmaker, and having the records
confirm its original specification puts the icing on the cake.
Unique
William Powell & Son 12b SLE with non-functioning hammers no 9622
Other guns on display in the NEC will be:
Henry
Atkin (From Purdey’s) 12b SLE no 397, cased;
J
Blanch 12b BLE no 6135;
16b SLE by Henry Clarke, 30” TIG sleeved;
12b 30” damascus barrelled roundaction ejector by J Dickson & Son, cased;
20b
hammergun by J Harkom & Son, cased;
28b
boxlock non-ejector by E&G Higham;
Beautiful 16g SLNE by Holland & Holland, cased;
12b
hammergun by John Lyell & Co;
12b
Bar-in-wood hammergun by William Powell & Son;
1884
12g J Purdey & Sons Self-opening SLE, cased in oak & leather;
Fascinating
12g 30” damascus early BLE by AJ Russell with grip safety!
I very much hope to see any British subscribers to my Updates at the British
Shooting Show, National Exhibition Centre, near Birmingham. Please drop by and
introduce yourself.
For my US subscribers, don’t forget that I have several lovely guns on
consignment with MacNab Fine Firearms. Details are:
A
lovely 16g James Purdey, damascus barrelled 1872 BiW
Hammergun. Quite amazing condition for its age with a very pretty antique
replacement stock.
Another BiW hammergun, this time a damascus Westley
Richards 12g from before 1887. A ‘Plain Jane’, she gives nothing away in
terms of build and finish and with her lovely wood (forend a replacement) would
make someone a very classy tool for game or clays.
Also added to the guns on consignment with MacNab since the Vintage Gunners Cup is a lovely 1st Type 12g H&H Royal: 2 ¾” x 28” replacement steel barrels and 15” replacement stock make this a very ‘useable’ gun. Great for doves and upland game.
Carrying the tightest bored Damascus barrels we have ever seen, this 12g hammergun by William Rochester Pape is one of the nicest examples of his work that we have had through the workshops in a long time. The dog & game vignettes on trigger guard and lockplates will make you smile and seriously ‘weight forward’ barrels will help you shoot well!
A lovely 12g 1890’s Underlever SLE by James Woodward and Sons, the ‘Automatic’ model. Complete with its original 29” chopperlump barrels and replacement 15” stock, this gun has been reproofed for 2 ¾” ammunition and is a real joy to handle, cased in an oak lined case with some accessories.
An 1893 12g roundaction ejector by John Dickson & Son TIG sleeved 28” with beautiful, original French walnut stock. 2 ¾” reproofed.
An 1889 12g H&H Royal SLE, replacement wood and 28” x 2 ¾” steel barrels, beautiful gun;
12g
Leech SLE, 28” x 2 ¾” rebarrelled by the makers with highly figured replacement
stock.
I look forward to seeing you all at the Southern S/S
Championships at Deep River NC in April.