Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd,
105 Victoria Street, Westminster, London
12 bore Backaction Sidelever Hammergun
no. 2688

Year of manufacture: 1875-87

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun is a very fine example of the sporting hammerguns that were the norm in the last quarter of the 19th Century and is in very good condition. Army & Navy CSL specialised in supplying the officers of the British armed forces with every kind of equipment and apparel, both for use at home and abroad. It is not thought that they actually made any of the goods they retailed but instead sourced them from the best within the trade and their guns were no exception. Virtually all the shotguns retailed by A&N were made by W&C Scott, later to become Webley & Scott, and this gun carries a number on its bottom rib of 26746 which agrees with Scott’s serial number range for 1880.
The gun was nitro reproofed in 2012 for 2 ½” (65mm) which makes it compatible with modern ammunition of the correct cartridge length and the beautifully figured stock and fine damascus barrels make this a really delightful and safe gun for clays or upland game.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers;
Backaction, rebounding locks;
Low level hammers acting on Broad strikers;
Finely chiselled percussion fences;
Rounded bar; Long top tang;
 Sidelever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Patent Hackett snap-on forend fastener.
Gun weight: 6 lb 5oz       
Engraving style:
Bold foliate scroll. Beaded borders.
Locks signed ‘ARMY & NAVY’. Action flats stamped ‘A&N CSL’.
Trigger pulls have been adjusted and measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾ lbs Rear trigger 4lbs
The rebrowned Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ½” (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type. The interior bores exhibit a few small vestigial marks.
Birmingham reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 2012.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.736"
0.023"
@ 3" from muzzle
0.006" (Skeet)
Left Barrel
18.8mm (0.740")
0.743"
0.024"
0.019" (Mod)
Straight Hand Stock and Snap-on Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot and features a vacant white metal escutcheon and engraved heel and toe plates secured by engraved screws. The forend has a finely engraved steel diamond and a horn tip. Care should be exercised when removing the forend. To avoid over-stressing the horn tip, make sure your finger is fully engaged with the wood.
Well Figured Walnut Stock & Forend

The approx. 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to its original design. 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
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/8"
14 5/8"
14 5/8"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 5/8"
1 7/8"
2 3/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
1/8" (approximate)

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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;

 'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Hackett’s forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.