J Williams & Co, London
12 bore Back action, Sidelock Non Ejector
no. 1109


Date of manufacture: 1878-1896

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun represents a good example of the early hammerless guns that were becoming more accepted in the last quarter of the 19th Century and a rare chance to buy a gun retailed by this little known gunmaker. The sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.

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

The action is of traditional back action design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Back action locks, 'Barlock' plates,
Top lever opening operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of 'Greener' style lever work,
Roger's cocking levers and Deeley forend catch
Gun weight 6lb 10oz Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4 lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs Engraving style Bouquet and Scroll with carved Fleur-de-Lys fences, Scroll work on breech ends.
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 flat, 'engine turned' type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2000.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.023" Minimum
0.005" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.736"
0.025" Minimum
0.020" (1/2)


Straight Hand Grip Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant escutcheon and is finished with an ebonite butt plate secured by engraved pins. The forend features a horn tip. There is a natural 'shake' in the RH side body of the stock. There is one very fine settling crack at the back of the LH lock plate.

 

Highly figured walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering is cut in a ornate, semi-borderless Fleur-de-Lys 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 1/8"
14 1/4"
14 1/8"
14 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 3/4"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible" (approximately)
1/8" (approximate)

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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873
Greener's patent no. 3090 of 1874.