J Blanch & Son, 29 Gracechurch Street,
London
16b Back action Hammergun
no. 26599
Year of production: 1875-1887
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This very pretty
little gun is a good example of the smallbore sporting hammerguns
so popular in the last quarter of the 19th Century. Furthermore
it has a sensible length stock for a gun of this age and, coupled
with its 28" barrels, 2 3/4" nitro proof and sensitive
restoration, it represent a pretty and highly 'shootable' 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 of traditional
design and features:
Double triggers; Bar action locks;
Rebounding, low level hammers;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of 'Scott Spindle';
Scott's patent forend catch.
The breech can be opened with the RH hammer at full cock.
Gun weight 6lb
Engraving style Fine scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4 1/2lbs Rear
trigger 4 1/2lb
The beautifully figured damascus barrels are 28 5/8" in
length, chambered for 2 3/4 " (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed
'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. There is some
light, vestigial pitting to both barrels and chambers, left in in order
to maintain wall thickness.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2012.
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
|
Right Barrel |
17.0mm (0.669)
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0.674"
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0.023+" Minimum
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0.006" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
17.0mm (0.669)
|
0.672"
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0.026+" Minimum
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0.010" (IC)
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Straight hand grip Stock and Splinter
Forend are crafted from well figured walnut.
The forend has 2 inlet edge repairs. The stock carries a vacant white
metal oval and is finished with an engraved iron butt plate secured
with engraved screws. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed
shot.
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
in a normal sidelock 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 5/8"
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14 3/4"
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14 5/8"
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15 1/8"
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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 13/16"
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2"
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2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible(approximate)
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1/8" (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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Scott's forend fastener patent no. 615 of 1876,
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867.