Julius Coster, 108 Rose Street, Edinburgh
No Visible Number
Date of manufacture: Pre-1898

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Heritage Guns' Comment

Julius Coster (1850-1927) was a noted Scottish gunsmith and inventor. His father was a German gunmaker in Niedermeister, under whom Julius studied before he immigrated to Britain in 1869 and by the following year had found employment with Alexander Henry. By 1886 he had become the foreman of Henry's workshop and had patented am improvement to the Martini Henry rifle. Soon after, he went into business with a Mr Hunter and then worked for himself. He moved to Glasgow in 1898.
This sweet little gun is unusual in that it carries 30" barrels, quite rare in a 20b, excellent minimum wall thickness and very useful choke constrictions. With its lovely Damascus barrels and great stock dimensions, this lovely gun would be ideal for upland game or clays.
Presented in its Maker's canvas and leather case with Maker's trade label.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The Action is of Anson & Deeley's boxlock design and features:
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Three point bolting including top rib extension;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide
and a Hackett style forend catch.
There is a vintage repair to the hidden part of the trigger plate.
Gun weight 5lb 11oz
Engraving style Fine Scroll Engraving with action signed by the Maker. Gold inlaid 'SAFE' at safety slide.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 3 ¾ lbs
The Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 1/2" (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed dovetail lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Bores are clean and bright.
Top rib is of the concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 2 ½" nitro powder cartridges in 1990.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
15.9mm
0.626"
0.627"
0.032"
0.002"
(Skeet)
Left Barrel
16.1mm
0.634"
0.636"
0.031"
0.020"
(IM)

The replacement straight hand grip stock and splinter forend are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed Gun. It features a white metal oval engraved 'DWH' and is finished with a chequered butt. The stock carries a few small handling marks.
The forend, thought to be the original wood, has an engraved steel tip. There are two small vintage inlet repairs to the forend edge and further small chip to the forend edge near the knuckle.
Figured walnut

The 22 approx. lines per inch chequering is cut to a normal boxlock stock pattern.
The stock has been lightly refinished 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
15"
15 3/16"
15 1/8"
15 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 3/8"
1 5/8"
2 3/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
Negligible
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;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875;
Hackett forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.