Heritage Guns' Comment

As the top rib and action engraving of this gun proclaims, 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 Gun being no exception.
Atkin's records of this period are very sparse and all we know is that it was made as a '12b, Side, Bar, Ejector' gun. The action body is stamped 'JR' so we can say for sure that this gun was the product of John Robertson's Soho workshop (of Boss & Co fame). Although made as an ejector, the Southgate system featured seems to be a later improvement, maybe replacing an unreliable, earlier design and incorporated a new forend iron as well as modifications to the cocking levers.
When this gun came to us, its chopperlump barrels were very thin and pitted so we have TIG sleeved them to their original 30".
However, what is really interesting is the lockwork. Originally stamped Stanton, they have been over-stamped Brazier and many of the bridle and spring pin holes have been bushed and redrilled. The locks are of fabulous quality and incorporate a possibly unique and experimental interceptor sear that without any extra moving parts, blocks the main sear as well as the tumblers. All these wonderful features combine with the rounded action and sidelever opening to make a very safe and desirable 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.