William Powell & Son, 13 Carr's Lane, Birmingham
12 bore Lift-up Toplever, Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
no. 10076

Date of manufacture: 1896



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Heritage Guns' Comment

This is a superb example of a Best Birmingham sidelock ejector from this highly respected gunmaker, made in the heyday of the British gun trade. It features one of the best known of the esoteric opening systems that featured on many prestigious gunmaker's products of the time: the Powell Patent Lift-Up Toplever, more commonly seen on their beautiful hammerguns, rare in a hammerless sidelock.
Additionally, this gun has remained complete with its original leather and brass case that we have carefully relined in best wool baize, presenting the gun at its best complete with its original accessories.
The 28" barrels have been TIG sleeved and re-proofed for 2 3/4" nitro cartridges and the original stock is in fantastic condition given its age. This all adds up to a beautiful and strong gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many years of service on game or clays with normal maintenance.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

 

The action is Powell's 'No. 1 Patent Action' and features:
Lift-Up Top lever opening,
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Bar action locks,
Roger's cocking levers,
H&H style interceptor sears,
Deeley ejectors tripped by slides in the bar of action
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 9 1/2oz Engraving style Best fine border & foliate scroll. Finely carved action bar.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 lbs Rear trigger 3 1/2lbs
The TIG sleeved Damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (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 2010

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.734"
0.030" Minimum
0.012" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.6mm (0.732")
0.734"
0.030" Minimum
0.020" (M)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut.

Highly figured walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering is to normal sidelock pattern. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a blank escutcheon and a horn butt plate secured with engraved screws. 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 1/2"
14 7/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 5/8"
2 1/16"
Cast at Comb
Cast 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:
Roger's cocking levers patent no 397 of 1882,
Powell's top lever patent no. 1163 of 1864,
Deeley's ejectors patent no. 4289 of 1886,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.