J Blanch & Son, 29 Gracechurch Street, London
16b Back action Hammergun
no. 26599

Year of production: 1875-1887

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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.

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:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
17.0mm (0.669)
0.674"
0.023+" Minimum
0.006" (IC)
Left Barrel
17.0mm (0.669)
0.672"
0.026+" Minimum
0.010" (IC)

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.

Well figured walnut

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
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 5/8"
14 3/4"
14 5/8"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 13/16"
2"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible(approximate)
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:
'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.