Jas Squires, 14 Newcastle Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Hammergun
No. 1480
Date of manufacture: 1877-1887
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment James Squires was one of a small
dynasty of gunmakers with premises in the East End of London.
This lovely Rotary Underlever hammergun was made in the period
of much change in the gunmaking world. Centre-fire guns had only
recently started to replaced pinfire guns and percussion before
them. However, many of the aesthetic and design features that
would become the norm can be seen in this early gun. Much original
hardening colour can be found on the action and lock plates and
it indicates the very fine condition of the piece. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US. |
The action is of traditional
bar action sidelock design and features:
Percussion fences,
Foliate Scroll engraving,
Extended top tang,
Jones Rotary Underlever,
Double triggers,
Rebounding bar action locks with high hammers
and a rare variant of the Anson forend fastening.
Gun weight 6lb 14oz
Engraving style Foliate scroll. Unusually 'Not For Ball' engraved
on barrels, not stamped.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4lbs Rear
trigger 4lbs
The Damascus barrels are 30" 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.
The LH barrel has some light vestigial pitting.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2012.
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 |
18.7mm (0.736")
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0.734"
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0.024"
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0.008" (IC)
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| Left Barrel |
18.7mm (0.736")
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0.735"
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0.022"
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0.009" (IC)
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Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot and features an engraved white metal oval and 1" leather covered recoil pad. The forend has a horn tip.
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Highly figured walnut
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The approximately 20 lines per inch chequering
is freshened to normal bar action sidelock pattern.
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 13/8"
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14 1/2"
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14 1/2"
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14 7/8"
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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 1/2"
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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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1/8" (approximate)
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1/4" (approximate)
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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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867,
Jones rotary underlever patent no. 2040 of 1859,
Anson's forend patent 3791 of 1872.