Henry Atkin (From Purdey's), 2 Jermyn
Street, Haymarket, London
12 bore Sidelock Ejector Gun
No. 397. No 1 of a pair.
Date of manufacture: 1882-3
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
The Henry Atkin who built this
gun did his apprenticeship at Purdey's under his father, also
named Henry, who is said to have been James Purdey's first employee.
There is no doubt that he learnt his trade well as all guns produced
under his name are truly gorgeous, this sidelock ejector being
no exception.
Atkin's records of this period are very sparse and all we know
is that it was made for a 'Lord Cremorne as a sidelock ejector
circa 1883 although the form of ejector featured was not invented
until some years later and is probably a later improvement. The
gun has been restocked and given new forend wood to a very high
standard. The locks exhibit the interceptor sear most commonly
used by John Robertson of Boss & Co fame and are of fabulous
quality so it is reasonable to assume that the gun was at least
actioned in John Robertson's Soho workshops.
What sets this gun aside from many Best shotguns of the era is
the truly lovely engraving: not too fine to be too almost invisible,
not too bold to be ostentatious.
The beautiful wood combined with TIG sleeved, steel barrels make
this gun perfect for the serious target or game shooter with a
love for fine, old shotguns.
Presented in a beautifully relined Leather & Brass guncase
with some Accessories.
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 normal late
C19th design and features:
Toplever operating a double bite, Purdey Bolt by way of a Scott Spindle;
Robertson style interceptor sears; Bar-action, 9 pin sidelocks;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang, safety slide;
Grant style ejectors tripped by blades running in the action bar
and an Anson forend catch.
Due to the Grant ejector trip system,
there may be a slight tendency for the ejectors to malfunction occasionally.
This should improve with use.
Gun weight 6lb 8oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll. Gold inlaid 'SAFE'. Fluted
fences engraved with acanthus leaves. Finely chiselled action bar. Anson
tube gold inlaid, rear lump stamped and triggerguard engraved '1'. Breech
face engraved with 'PATENT SG EJECTOR' within an oval.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 lbs Rear
trigger 4 lbs
The TIG sleeved steel 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 the smooth, concave, game style.
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 |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.731"
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0.028"
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0.011" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.736"
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0.027"
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0.017" (Mod)
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The replacement, straight hand stock and splinter
forend are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock is cast-off
for a right-handed Gun with a very lightly swept comb. It features
a vacant, white metal oval, well-defined drop points and is finished
with a ½" leather covered recoil pad. The forend wood
features an engraved steel tip.
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Replacement, Well Figured Walnut
Stock & Forend
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The 28 approx lines per inch chequering has
been freshened to the 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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15"
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15 1/8"
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15 1/8"
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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 1/2"
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1 5/8"
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2 1/16"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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1/8" approx.
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1/4" approx.
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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;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 11623 of 1887;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.