Joseph Harkom & Son, 32 Princes Street,
Edinburgh
20 bore Bar Action Hammergun
No. 1583
Approximate date of manufacture: pre-1894 (from address)
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun is a fabulously finished
and specified example of the small bore hammerguns often purchased
for children or wives by indulgent patriarchs and represent a
very rare opportunity to acquire such a fine small bore gun from
this highly respected maker. Although provisionally dated to the
1875-1887 period by the original proof marks, because of their
faintness, we can only definitively date the gun by the top rib
address which was pre-1894. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US. |
The action is of traditional
hammergun design and features:
Double triggers;
Bar action, rebounding locks;
Finely chiselled percussion fences;
High 'Dolphin' hammers; Broad strikers;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Snap forend fastener based on a cross bolt design.
Gun weight 5lb 12oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll with Celtic robe border.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼
lbs, Rear trigger 4lbs.
The laser sleeved steel to damascus barrels are 28" in length,
chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of dovetail construction
with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2018.
Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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| Right Barrel |
15.6mm (0.614")
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0.614"
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0.037"
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0.005" (IC)
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| Left Barrel |
15.7mm (0.618")
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0.615"
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0.034"
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0.014" (Mod)
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The Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock features a vacant
white metal oval and ebonite chequered butt plate secured by engraved
screws. There are two small inlet repairs to the lower horns to repair
wear and it is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot. The forend
has a finely engraved steel tip and catch escutcheons and has three
small inlet repairs to its edge.
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Highly
Figured Walnut Stock & Forend
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The 18 lines per inch chequering is freshened
to a normal sidelock 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:
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Pull to Heel
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 1/2"
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14 5/8"
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14 5/8"
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15 1/8"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 5/8"
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1 3/4"
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2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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1/16" approx.
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3/16"
approx.
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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.