Stephen Grant, 67 ½ St James's Street, London
12 bore Back Action Hammergun
No. 2520, No 1 of pair
Date of manufacture: 1866-67

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This is a superb example of a Rotary Underlever hammergun from this highly respected gunmaker, made when hammerguns were rapidly developing in terms of design and aesthetics. Built as one of a pair, it is only the 40th gun recorded by Stephen Grant after he left Boss & Co where he had been manager. The address on the barrels is interesting as it is usually engraved as '67a' but the London street addresses underwent many changes at this time of great growth and it may just reflect a change in street nomenclature.
The grip safety, a feature more of the muzzle-loading era, was installed after the gun was originally finished but probably within a few years of its sale and likewise the locks were converted to the Stanton rebounding patent. Maybe the two jobs were completed at the same time. We have no doubt that the work was completed by Grant or another of very similar standing.
The gun came to us with scruffy soft-solder sleeving and so we had the joint TIG welded. Unfortunately, in the process the lumps were found to be loose due to original faulty braising so we had the lumps professionally reset. The 28" barrels have since been re-proofed for 2 ¾" nitro cartridges and this all adds up to a strong gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many years of service on game or clays with normal maintenance.
Cased in a contemporary brass cornered, trunk style, leather case with 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 back action sidelock design and features:
Finely chiselled percussion fences;
High level Dolphin hammers;
Sprung strikers;
Best Foliate Scroll engraving;
Extended top tang;
Jones Rotary Underlever;
Double triggers;
Grip safety;
Stanton rebounding back action locks;
Cross bolt forend fastening.
Gun weight 6lb 7 oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll. No. '1' is engraved on forend, trigger guard, butt plate and top rib.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed dovetail construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2017.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.733"
0.030"
0.009" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.031"
0.021" (Mod)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot and features a vacant white metal riveted oval and an engraved iron butt plate secured with engraved screws. The forend has a finely engraved steel tip.
Highly Figured Stock

The 22 lines per inch chequering is freshened to normal backaction sidelock pattern.
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 1/8"
14 1/2"
14 7/16"
15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 9/16"
1 3/4"
2 3/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" approx.
1/4" approx.

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;
Jones rotary underlever patent no. 2040 of 1859.