George Taylor, 233 Aston Road, Birmingham
16 bore Bar Action Hammergun no. 5307
Date of manufacture: 1878-81
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This gun is an interesting example
of the famous William Powell lift-up toplever patent that the
inventor marketed so well in the last decades of the C19th. Dating
this gun can only be done using the two main patents exhibited
here. The locks are marked internally for the Stanton rebounding
lock, i.e. 1867-81, but there is no patent stamp for the Powell
LU toplever, 1864-78, so this gun can be dated to between 1878
and 1881.
In more recent times the gun was rebarrelled, probably by Webley
& Scott judging by the style of the short rib, and this has
given this lovely gun a whole new lease of life. Re-proofed for
2 ¾" cartridges, this represents a rare opportunity
to acquire a lovely condition classic English hammergun with many
interesting and historic features.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action is of William Powell
design and features:
Double triggers,
Bar action rebounding locks with'C Scroll' hammers,
Percussion fences, sprung strikers,
Lift-up top lever opening,
Elongated top strap
and Hachett style forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 8 1/2oz
Engraving style Fine Border & Foliate Scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The replacement steel barrels are 30" 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, convex, game type.
London re-proof for 70mm nitro 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
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
16.9mm
(0.665")
|
0.666"
|
0.028"
|
0.009" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
16.9mm
(0.665")
|
0.665"
|
0.026"
|
0.021" (Mod)
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Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a
right-handed shot, features well defined drop points, a vacant white
metal oval and is fitted with engraved steel heel & toe plates secured
with engraved screws. The forend features a horn tip.
The 20 lines per inch chequering is to normal
sidelock points 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:
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14"
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14 1/4"
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14 3/16"
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14 5/8"
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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 11/16"
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1 15/16"
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2 5/16"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel (On)
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1/16" (approximate)
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1/8" (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,
Powell's top lever patent no. 1163 of 1864,
Hackett forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.