John Dickson & Son, 63 Princes Street, Edinburgh
 12 bore Back Action Hammergun
no. 3606
Year of production: 1879

 

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Heritage Guns' Comment


For all its understated engraving and apparently simple design, this hammergun is a very fine example of the quality guns that Dickson were famous for. Small details like the ‘Guarded’ Anson push rod end are easily visible but the use of an ‘anti-friction’ swivel on the toplever spring can only be seen on disassembly and is a very rare improvement of a simple mechanism. When you lift the gun, another feature is immediately apparent: the heft of the beautiful damascus barrels! With MWT’s in the mid 30’s and significant thickness in the breech area, this is no lightweight! Weighing in at 7lb 5oz, the gun has a balance point 1” in front of the knuckle making for a gun with a smooth swing on longer targets or game. Our sensitive restoration of this rare gun, its excellent stock dimensions and fine nitro proofed damascus barrels make it a very useable, pretty and collectable gun for any connoisseur of Scottish gunmaking. Presented in an oak lined leather case with original red baize lining
and fitted with a reproduction Maker’s trade label and some accessories.

A beautiful Scottish hammergun
at the fantastic price of only £6490

The action is of traditional backaction design and features:
Double triggers with front sprung blade;
Rebounding, backaction sidelocks with mid-height hammers;
Rounded action bar; Finely chiselled percussion fences;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a ‘Scott Spindle’;
Top lever spring with anti-friction swivel;
Extended top strap;
Anson pushrod forend catch with ‘Guarded’ end.
Note: The breech can be opened with hammers cocked.
Engraving style Fine scroll in the style of Sumner. Beaded borders. Barrels & action flats stamped ‘J.D&S’ and ‘3606’. Much original hardening colour in protected areas.
The signatures on the locks appear to have been gold washed.
Gun weight 7lb 5oz   
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lb
The original damascus barrels are 30” in length, chambered for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges
and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
The internal bore surfaces are free of pitting or marks.
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 2 ½” nitro powder cartridges in 1975.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

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


Right Barrel
0.719"
0.725"
0.037"
0.000" (Cyl)

Left Barrel
0.719"
0.726"
0.035"
0.002" (Skeet)

The original Straight-hand Grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The forend features a finely engraved steel tip and ‘Guarded’ Anson rod tip. The stock is finished with a 1” leather covered recoil pad, features a vacant white metal oval and is cast-off for a right-handed shot.

Highly Figured Walnut

The approx. 18 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its distinctive original Dickson 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 1/2"
14 5/8"
14 5/8"
15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 3/8"
1 1/2"
2"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
1/8" (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;
  'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.