Samuel B Allport, 50 Whittall Street,
Birmingham
20 bore Back action Hammergun
no. 2085
Year of production: 1875-87
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This gun is a most interesting
and elegant, small bore, sporting hammergun such as were commonly
purchased for young people or by ladies in the last quarter of
the 19th Century.
The gun is interesting as it incorporates a rare usage of Allport's
own bolting leverwork, utilising an offset internal lever to operate
the otherwise normal 'Purdey Bolt'. Although showing some wear
in places, the engraving was of the very Best quality and combined
with the finely finished internal parts, it emphasises that this
was not built as a cheap gun.
Coupled with the sensitive restoration, excellent barrel dimensions
makes it a very pretty and safe gun for either game or clays.
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 generally of traditional
design and features:
Double triggers;
Rounded action bar;
Stanton patent rebounding, back action locks;
High hammers; Sprung strikers; Percussion fences;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of Allport's patent
leverwork;
Deeley & Edge forend catch.
Engraving style Best Foliate Scroll (some wear in places)
Gun weight 5lb 3oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 3 ¾ lb
The soft solder sleeved, steel to damascus barrels are 28"
in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are
of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type, slightly swamped.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2015.
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 |
15.9mm (0.626")
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0.624"
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0.034" Minimum
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0.013" (Mod)
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Left Barrel |
15.9mm (0.626")
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0.626"
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0.035" Minimum
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0.020" (IM)
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The Straight-hand Grip Stock and Splinter Forend (thought to
be originals) are crafted from figured walnut and feature a vacant
white metal oval.
The forend carries an finely engraved steel tip.
The stock is finished with 1/8" horn butt plate, secured
by engraved screws, and is cast-off for a right-handed shot.
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
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Pull to Toe
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14 7/8"
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14 7/8"
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14 7/8"
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15 1/2"
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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 7/16"
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1 3/4"
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2 3/8"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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1/8" (approximate)
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3/8" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Allport's leverwork patent no. 3518 of 1872;
Deeley & Edge forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873.