Heritage Guns Update 23^rd December 2018

Just a short note to wish you all a very happy Christmas and fruitful New Year.

My wife Chrissy and I are spending the holiday at home on our own: after two years of entertaining family or dashing up to Isle of Mull, a quiet, self-indulgent time beckoned! Tilly is also pleased as her routine of eat, sleep, walk, repeat will not be compromised by any travelling or strangers in her personal territory!

As many of you will already be aware, I am going to miss the 2019 January Beinfeld Antique Arms Show in Las Vegas in favour of exhibiting at the British Shooting Show in February. This is going to a very exciting new venture, not having exhibited in the UK before and so never exposed to the great British sporting masses!

Just for fun and passing interest I include below a few of my recent Facebook posts concerning guns coming through the restoration process:

5^th December

I thought some might be interested in these photos of an 1892 H&H Royal that I was regulating today. I describe it as transitional as it has several features that link between the earlier 'Type One' dip edge Royals and the 'Type Two' more current styling that Hollands adopted after opening their Harrow Rd factory in 1893.
Obviously this is a later lock plate shape but still stamped 'Block Patent Safety' although the actual interceptor sear referred to has been replaced by the 'Spear' interceptor sear much utilised by John Robertson's London workshops (he built or at least finished many of the Royals for Hollands up until 1893).
The action is still not stocked to the fences and the simplified Scott top extension is still in use.
The bolstered tumbler pivot is still in evidence.
The engraving pattern is showing signs of the later move to bold foliate but still has the rose bouquets of the earlier pattern.

6^th December

Well, is it a hammergun with ejectors or a sidelock ejector with hammers? Actually the latter: totally inert hammers on an 1893 classic sidelock ejector specified by the original customer of Powell’s. They do nothing but dress the gun! Aiming aid? Sop to tradition? We will never know but the conjecture is great fun!
Nearly finished its rebuild including 2 3/4” nitro TIG sleeving, many new pins, stock refinish and soft metal engraving freshen. Biggest challenge was a day completely re-regulating the cocking and ejector trip mechanism which had been messed with big time!
Original case reline, barrel blacking with Stephens & Johnson, final regulation and finishing still to do. Should be all ready for the British Shooting Show in February.

And lastly:

9^th December

I finished regulating this lovely Scottish hammergun by J Lyell & Co on Friday. Chequering refreshed and all new pins engraved, hardened and tempered. Now to get the damascus browning started. Note the 'cornucopia' on the trigger guard bow: the 'trademark' of best Gallyon guns. Not that I think this gun has any connection with Gallyon but it is interesting that two gunmakers separated by about 350 miles in the late C19th should have chosen the same logo in the same place!
Other interesting features are a two piece hinge pin and a bolting system very similar to the William Powell patent of 1864 but attributed elsewhere.

Anyway, have an excellent time over the holidays, try not to eat too much or damage your liver with an excess of fine malt whisky (or whatever is your preferred tipple)!