John Spratley of Luton, England
20 bore, Bar-action Hammergun
No Visible Number

Year of production: pre-1896

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

This represents an excellent opportunity to purchase a really usable small-bore hammergun built in the last quarter of the 19th Century. This gun exhibits excellent dimension and specification and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty 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,
Bar-action locks,
Rebounding hammers,
Top lever opening operating a 'Purdey Bolt',
Passive top extension.
Gun weight 5lb 12oz
Engraving style Border & scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4lbs Rear trigger 5lb
The sleeved steel to Damascus are 26 ½" 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 2008.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
15.6 mm (0.614")
0.614"
0.036"
0.010" (1/4)
Left Barrel
15.6 mm (0.614")
0.615"
0.030"
0.015" (3/8)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from figured walnut. The snap-on forend carries a horn tip and the stock is finished with a leather covered recoil pad.
The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot.

Figured walnut stock and forend

The 20 (approx) lines per inch chequering has been cut to a normal barlock design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre but up to 30 coats of hand rubbed oil.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 1/4"
N/A
14 1/4"
14 5/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 5/8"
2"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
1/8" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Greener's patent no. 3090 of 1874.