Stephen Grant & Sons, 67A St James's Street,
London
.410 Back action Hammergun
no. 51700
Year of production: circa 1893
Note these photos were taken when the
barrels were still 'in the white' before blacking.
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Although the locks are signed by
the Maker, the top rib is engraved 'Shot & Examined by
'
which confirms that this gun was bought in from the specialist
trade, almost certainly Scott of Birmingham who were the premier
suppliers of shotguns and rifles to the whole UK guntrade. The
serial number can be found on the knuckle of the action bar and
forend loop and is correct for Scott's numbering for 1893. What
is noticeable is the quality of the action and lock: use of the
Scott spindle as opposed to the cheaper Greener leverwork and
sears pivoting on an integral axle rather than a screwed pin.
This very pretty little gun is a good example of the smallbore
sporting hammerguns often purchased for children in the last quarter
of the 19th Century. However, it has an unusually long stock for
a gun of this gauge and, coupled with its 28" length barrels,
2 ½" nitro proof and sensitive restoration, it represent
a pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Update April 2018:
A pinhole in the top rib was discovered after the original renovation
was completed so the top rib has been replaced, engraved and re-blacked.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action is of traditional
design and features:
Much original hardening colour in protected areas;
Finely chiselled percussion fences;
Double triggers;
Back action locks with rebounding, low level hammers;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a Scott Spindle;
Snap-on 'Sugar Tongs' forend catch.
The breech can be opened with the RH hammer at full cock.
There are indications that the LH hammer has been repaired as some point
in the past.
Gun weight 4lb 13oz Engraving style Fine foliate scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3lbs Rear
trigger 4lb
The original steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered
for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail'
lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 2017.
Please note: due to the great difficulty in measuring
410 barrels,
the dimensions below (other than proof size) are approximate.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
10.3mm (0.405")
|
0.408"
|
0.021"
|
0.002-4" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
10.3mm (0.405")
|
0.404"
|
0.026"
|
0.004"+ (IC)
|
The probable replacement Prince of Wales grip Stock and original
Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut.The
snap-on forend features an engraved steel tip and a small inlet repair
to its edge. The stock carries a vacant white metal oval and is finished
with a 5/8" ebonite butt plate, with thin leather spacer, secured
with engraved screws. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed
shot.
The 20 (approx) lines per inch chequering has
been refreshed to a normal back-lock 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 11/16"
|
14 3/4"
|
15 1/4"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 7/16"
|
1 5/8"
|
2 1/8"
|
Cast-off at Comb
|
Cast-off at Heel
|
Negligible
|
1/16" (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.