E & G Higham, Ranelagh St, Liverpool
12 bore Box Lock Ejector
no. 3754
Approximate date of manufacture: 1884-1886

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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun from a highly respected but little known maker is an early, finely finished and specified example of the Anson & Deeley boxlock that became such a hugely successful design by the last decade of the 19th Century. Interestingly, the gun was originally made as an ejector using William Anson's own patent ejector system but, presumably due to inherent design weaknesses, was converted to the later Baker ejector system during the 1890's. As with so many older guns, the Damascus barrels had been soft solder sleeved in 1978 and we have recently re-sleeved the gun using the so-called 'Invisible Sleeving' TIG welding method and re-proofed it for 2 3/4" cartridges. The action is profusely covered with fine border, scroll and foliate detail and this coupled with the interceptor sears, excellent barrel measurements and sensitive restoration makes it a very safe, pretty and 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of Anson & Deeley design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Interceptor sears;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Three point bolting including top extension;
Anson pushrod forend catch;
Coil spring ejectors to W. Baker's design tripped by slides running from the action knuckle to the main springs.
Gun weight 6lb 7oz Engraving style Fine border, scroll and foliate detail.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4lbs Rear trigger 4 1/2 lbs.
The TIG 'Invisibly Sleeved' Damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2009.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot, features a yellow metal escutcheon engraved with a 'J' and is finished with a traditional horn butt plate secured with engraved screws.

The 21 approx lines per inch chequering is to the normal boxlock design with well defined drop points.
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:

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:
W Baker's ejector patent no. 17292 of 1890;
Anson's ejector patent no. 15299 of 1884 (vestiges of);
Anson & Deeley's boxlock patent no. 1756 of 1875;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Anson & Deeley's safety catch no. 907 of 1879;
Anson's interceptor sear patent no. 4089 of 1882;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.