J Blanch & Son. 29 Gracechurch Street, London
12 bore Box Lock Ejector
no. 6491
Approximate date of manufacture: Circa 1906

 

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun is a very finely finished example of the Anson & Deeley boxlock that had become such a hugely successful design by the last decade of the 19th Century.
The full coverage of bold foliate scroll engraving is extremely attractive and was used by Blanch on their Best boxlocks. The action is built on the Webley & Brain patent, known as the ‘Screw Grip’, which works with the usual Purdey bolt to give a really firm lock-up and this combined with the Anson & Deeley ‘Dicky Bird’ safety mechanism and its original steel barrels, make it a very pretty, safe and 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Presented in a leather ‘Brady’ style case with the gun’s original numbered Maker’s label
and some accessories.

Fantastic value at only £4290

The action is of Anson & Deeley design and features: 
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' and ‘Screw Grip’ third bite
in conjunction with the top rib extension;
‘Southgate’ ejectors tripped by patented rocking levers at the knuckle;
Anson pushrod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 11oz
Engraving style Full coverage of bold foliate scroll.
Action bar signed in scrolling banner ‘J BLANCH & SON LONDON’.
Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’.
The original barrels are numbered to the action.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾ lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs.
The original BSA-supplied steel barrels are 29" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
The gun balances a touch forward of the hinge pin.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type. 
Bores are clean and mirror bright.
Birmingham reproof for 2 ¾” nitro powder cartridges in 2024.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction


Right Barrel

 18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.023"
0.004" (Skeet)

Left Barrel

 18.6mm (0.732")
0.733"
0.023"
0.020" (Mod)

The Straight Hand Stock (possible vintage replacement) and original Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval and is finished with a traditional 3/4” leather covered recoil pad. There is a small repair to the lower LH corner of the stock’s head. The forend is fitted with a finely engraved steel tip.


Highly Figured Walnut

The 22 (stock) and 26 (forend) lines per inch chequering has been freshened to their original design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 7/8 -"
14 7/8 +"
14 7/8 -"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 3/4"
2 5/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" (approximate)
1/4" (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:

Anson & Deeley's boxlock patent no. 1756 of 1875;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Webley & Brain’s ‘Screw Grip’ patent no. 3052 of 1882;
Anson & Deeley's safety catch no. 907 of 1879;
Southgate’s ejector patent no. 12314 of 1889;  
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.