Thomas Turner, 19 Brook Street,
Bond Street, London
16 bore Ultra Lightweight
Back Action Hammergun
No. 4319
 Year of manufacture: 1875-1887

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This Turner hammergun is a great example of the ultra-lightweight guns that he was best known for. They were made in both hammer and boxlock formats and were very successful at a time when the fashion for light guns was at its peak.  
Turner lightweight guns are well known for their fundamental simplicity and good quality, weight being reduced by paring away unneeded wood and metal whilst keeping it where strength was required.
The miniature Stanton rebounding locks are of good quality and the TIG sleeved barrels are compatible with standard steel.
The cutaway stock is a particular Turner feature and this gun’s well figured timber coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays but especially suitable for upland game.
Presented in its original Maker’s leather trimmed, canvas case with Maker’s trade label and some accessories.

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

The action is of proprietary ultra-lightweight design and features:
Miniature Stanton patent rebounding back action locks with low-level hammers;
Sprung strikers; Double triggers;
Slim top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey' type bolt by way of a 'Scott' spindle;
Passive top rib extension;
Miniature forend with ‘Sugar-tongs’ snap fastening;
Long top strap.
Engraving style Bold Foliate Scroll. Action flats stamped with the Scott Tower trade mark.
Gun weight 5lb 9oz      
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
The TIG sleeved steel to damascus barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ " (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
The gun balances about 1 ½” in front of the knuckle and we have not re-balanced it as this is a very personal and subjective decision.
Top rib is of smooth game style.
There is a small loss of blacking between top rib and barrel at the breech end.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2021.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
17.2mm (0.677")
0.678"
0.030"
0.013" (IC)
Left Barrel
17.2mm (0.677")
0.678"
0.031"
0.021" (Mod)



The original cutaway Straight Hand Stock and miniature Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut and the stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features two engraved white metal ovals on heel and toe and engraved heel & toe plates.
The forend has a finely engraved steel tip.

Well Figured Stock

The approximately 22 lines per inch chequering is freshened to normal backaction 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:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/8"
14 5/8"
14 1/2"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 5/8"
1 11/16"
2 1/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" Approx.
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,
 'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865.