John Crutchloe, Bailey St, Oswestry, Salop.
12 bore Bar Action Hammergun.
no. 6047


Date of manufacture: 1875-78


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Heritage Guns' Comment

This beautifully engraved provincial hammergun is the living proof that guns of high quality were not only made in London or by a few distinguished 'Makers in Birmingham.
Carrying the patina of a busy and eventful life, the stock is of lovely figure and the gun features the very rare Ellis & Wilkinson captive forend patent, finely figured Damascus barrels and a long and elegant action bar which give excellent gape for reloading. Although the bolting is by a normal Purdey double under-bolt, the actuation of the bolt is a slight variation on the Scott Spindle, whereby the spindle is formed as part of the toplever which meshes with a small 'key' that it turns to move the bolt.
Another rare feature is that the tight chokes have survived the attentions of the gunsmith's lapping tool and with its recent 2 ¾" nitro reproof, this gun would make an excellent tool for trap, live pigeon or wildfowling.


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:
Toplever operating a double under-bolt;
Double triggers;
Deeply carved 'Percussion' fences;
Bar action Stanton locks;
Rebounding, low hammers;
Broad strikers; Long top strap
and Captive forend.
Gun weight 7lb Engraving style Best Fine Foliate Scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/4 lbs Rear trigger 4 1/4 lbs
The Fine Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham proof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 1999.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.8mm (0.740")
0.741"
0.022"
0.030" (IM)
Left Barrel
18.8mm (0.740")
0.741"
0.024"
0.030" (IM)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock has near neutral cast (RH if anything), features a vacant white metal escutcheon faintly engraved with intertwined initials and is finished with a 1" leather covered recoil pad.
There is a shake in the LH body of the stock, this has no structural significance.


Well Figured walnut

The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to a normal baraction sidelock pattern.
The forend is fully chequered and carries a horn tip.
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 3/8"
14 1/2"
14 5/8"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 11/16"
2 5/16"
Cast-on at Comb
Cast-on at Heel
Negligible
Negligible

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;
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
Ellis & Wilkinson captive forend patent no. 292 of 1877.