J Williams & Co, London
12 bore Back action, Sidelock Non Ejector
no. 1109
Date of manufacture: 1878-1896
Click on these images for more detail.
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.
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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:
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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 |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.731"
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0.023" Minimum
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0.005" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
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0.736"
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0.025" Minimum
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0.020" (1/2)
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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.
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
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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 1/4"
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14 1/8"
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14 1/2"
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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 1/2"
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1 3/4"
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2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible" (approximately)
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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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873
Greener's patent no. 3090 of 1874.