James Woodward & Sons, 64 St James's
Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 4381 (No 1 of a Pair)
Year of manufacture: 1886-91
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
An highly experienced gunsmith
to the English guntrade told me once that he rated James Woodward's
shotguns over all other 'Makers. A short while later, when he
saw this example, he reminded me of his comment and said it was
guns like this that were the reason as it exhibited Best design
and finish in every respect.
Very likely built as a non-ejector, it was converted using the
'Thomas Perkes' ejector box: a direct competitor to Westley Richard's
Deeley system. In fact the two mechanisms where so similar, the
two companies fought a court action over it which Richards lost.
Perkes may have won the battle but he lost the war: the court
costs bankrupted him. Given this history, we can be fairly certain
that the conversion was done before his bankruptcy in 1898. Based
on the extremely high quality of the work, we believe that the
conversion was probably done in-house by Woodward or another top-flight
gunmaker. Although it appears to be original, it should be noted
that this gun does not have the traditionally shaped Woodward
safety slide.
This gun has been recently TIG sleeved to a very high standard
and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very
pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Presented in its burgundy felt
lined, leather case with some accessories and an original Woodward
case label.
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 traditional
design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic, top tang, safety slide;
Bar action sidelocks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
Gold lined cocking indicators; 'Robertson' style interceptor sears;
Disc-set strikers with vented retaining pins;
'Rogers' style cocking levers with anti-friction rollers;
Side lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
'Perkes' ejector box;
'Anson' forend catch;
Arcaded, clipped fences.
Engraving style Very Best Foliate
Scroll with Floral Detail.
Very probably engraved by Kell or Sumner.
Gun weight 6lb 9oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾
lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The TIG sleeved 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 of the smooth, concave game type..
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2014.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
|
0.727"
|
0.033" Minimum
|
0.010" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
|
0.727+"
|
0.036" Minimum
|
0.030" (IM)
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The original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted
from highly figured walnut and the stock is lightly cast off for a
right-handed shot, features well defined drop points, a white metal
oval engraved with a 'H.J.T' (?) and a ½" ebonite butt
plate secured with engraved screws.
The forend has a small walnut inlay near the knuckle to accommodate
the ejector box spring and a finely engraved steel tip.
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
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
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
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14 5/8"
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14 3/4"
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14 13/16"
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15 3/8"
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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 5/8"
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1 7/8"
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2 5/8"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible
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3/16"
(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,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.