J. F. White, Abington Street, Northampton
12 bore Bar action Hammergun
no. 1732
Year of manufacture: 1875-87
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Click on these images for more detail.
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Heritage Guns' Comment J.F.White, an almost unknown provincial gunmaker, obviously
had a very wealthy and discerning client for this beautifully
engraved piece. Nicely restocked in the recent past, gun no.1732
shouts quality is ever detail and is a particularly fine example
of the sporting hammerguns that were the norm in the last quarter
of the 19th Century. 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 normal design for the
period and features:
Double triggers, Bar action locks, Rebounding 'Dolphin' hammers,
Passive strikers, Percussion fences, Top lever opening, operating a
'Purdey Bolt',
'Doll's Head top extension with rotating third bite, Hackett snap-on
forend.
Gun weight 6 lb 3oz Engraving style Best Fine Bouquet
& Foliate Scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/2lbs Rear
trigger 4 1/2lbs
The Damascus 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, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2008.
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 |
18.8mm
(0.740) |
0.743"
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0.026" Minimum
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0.010" |
| Left Barrel |
18.9mm
(0.744) |
0.747"
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0.024" Minimum
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0.020" |
Straight Hand Stock and Snap-on Splinter Forend are crafted from nicely figured walnut. The stock is a recent replacement while the forend is most likely the original and is finished with a iron tip finial. The one piece stock is cast off for a right-handed shot and carries a vacant white metal escutcheon.
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Nicely figured walnut
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The 20 lines per inch chequering has been cut to a normal bar lock design and is in good condition. 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 1/8"
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14 3/16"
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14 1/4"
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15"
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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 3/8"
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1 1/2"
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1 7/8"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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1/8" approx
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3/8" approx
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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;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Hackett's forend fastener patent no. 964 of 1878.