Edwin Chamberlain, Winchester Street,
Andover, Hampshire.
28 bore Back-action Hammergun
no. 41159
 Year of manufacture: circa 1890

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

This hammergun represents a very good example of the small bore sporting hammerguns that were marketed primarily for young persons and ladies in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Undoubtedly made in the Birmingham trade for this respected provincial gunmaker, it is a nice quality gun. The original dark walnut is highly figured, internally the gun is very well finished and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Presented in a contemporary, relined leather & brass case with a Heritage Guns trade label and some accessories.

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;
Stanton patent rebounding back-action locks with high level, ‘Hares Ear’ hammers;
Well carved percussion fences & rounded bar;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey’ type bolt by way of Greener style leverwork;
Hacket type snap forend fastening.
The gun balances about 1/8” in front of the action knuckle.
 Engraving style Beaded border with stylised flower and scroll detail.
Locks signed ‘E. CHAMBERLAIN’ in a scrolling banner.
Some traces of original hardening colour and overall patination.
Gun weight 5lb 3oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4lbs
 The soft-solder sleeved steel to steel barrels are 28 1/8" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ " (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is flat and machine matted.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2019.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

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


Right Barrel
14.1 mm
(0.555")
0.555"
0.034"
0.023" (Full)

Left Barrel
14.1 mm
(0.555")
0.556"
0.031"
0.022" (Full)

The original semi-pistol grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut,
the stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot and is finished with engraved heel & toe plates and chequered wood.
The forend has one small inlet repair to its edge and an engraved steel tip.


Highly Figured Walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to its 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. 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 "
14 1/4"
14 1/8"
14 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 11/16"
2 1/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
Cast-off at Toe
1/16" (approximate)
3/16" (approximate)
 5/16" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867,
 'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
 Greener's leverwork patent no. 3090 of 1874.