WR Pape, 36 Westgate Street, Newcastle-On-Tyne.
12 bore Bar-action hammergun
no. 4237
Year of manufacture: 1887

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This hammergun, with its game scene vignettes and rounded bar, represents a fine example of the provincial sporting hammergun that were sold in substantial numbers during the period 1865 to 1890's. The Stanton rebounding locks are of high quality and the damascus barrels are in fabulous condition and exhibit very tight bores. The stock and forend are thought to be original and along with nice figure feature the unusual ornate chequering that Pape was associated with.
This coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty, safe and highly '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 traditional design and features:
Double triggers;
Stanton bar-action locks;
Low level, rebounding 'C Scroll' hammers;
Finely carved percussion fences;
Broad strikers;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey' type bolt via Greener style leverwork;
Passive 'Dolls Head' top rib extension;
Extended top strap;
Deeley forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 12oz
Engraving style Fine scroll with dog and game vignettes on triggerguard and lockplates.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The damascus barrels are 30" 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 1972.


Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
0.700"
0.706"
0.030"
0.002" (Skeet)
Left Barrel
0.719"
0.724"
0.028"
0.020" (Mod)

Semi pistol-grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut and are thought to be the original wood. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot and features a white metal escutcheon, well defined drop points and an ebonite butt plate secured with engraved screws and moulded with pastoral scene and deer. The forend if finished with a horn tip and has 2 small inlets to its edge near the knuckle.
Well Figured Stock & Forend

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been cut to an ornate 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:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/8"
14 1/2"
14 3/8"
14 7/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 5/8"
1 7/8"
2 1/2"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
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;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no 1104 of 1863;
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873.