James Woodward & Sons, 64 St James's Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 4641 (No 1 of a Pair)
Year of manufacture: 1892
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
A highly experienced gunsmith to
the English guntrade told me once that he rated James Woodward's
shotguns over all other 'Makers. A short while later, when he
saw this example, he reminded me of his comment and said it was
guns like this that were the reason as it exhibited Best design
and finish in every respect.
This gun was built using the 'Thomas Perkes' ejector box: a direct
competitor to Westley Richard's Deeley system. In fact the two
mechanisms were so similar, the two companies fought a court action
over it which Richards lost. Perkes may have won the battle but
he lost the war: the court costs bankrupted him.
Due to the parlous state of the original Whitworth Fluid Pressed
Steel barrels, we have had them TIG sleeved and furthermore had
a set of four Teague Interchangeable Thin-wall chokes fitted.
The engraving is really in first class condition and, coupled
with the interchangeable chokes and spectacular wood, makes it
a very pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either game
or clays.
Presented in a Leather & Brass
case with reproduction maker's label and some accessories.
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
design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic, top tang safety slide of classic
Woodward style;
Bar action sidelocks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
Gold lined cocking indicators;
'Robertson' style interceptor sears;
'Rogers' style cocking levers;
Thumblever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt'; 'Perkes' ejector box;
'Anson' forend catch;
Disc-set strikers with vented retaining pins;
Arcaded fences.
Engraving style Very Best Foliate Scroll. Gold inlaid SAFE at
slide.
Very probably engraved by Kell or Sumner.
Gun weight 6lb 8oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs, Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The TIG sleeved, chopperlump Whitworth Fluid Pressed Steel barrels
are 29" 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.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2015.
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
|
Right Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
|
0.729"
|
0.034"
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Teague Interchangeable
Thin-Wall Chokes x 4
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Left Barrel |
18.5mm (0.728")
|
0.728"
|
0.036"
|
Teague Interchangeable
Thin-Wall Chokes x 4
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The original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from very highly figured walnut and the stock is cast-off
for a right-handed shot, features well defined drop points, a vacant
white metal oval, a 7/8" well matched wood extension and is finished
with a chequered butt.
The forend has a finely engraved steel tip.
The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened
to its original 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 1/2"
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14 5/8"
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14 9/16"
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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 1/2"
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1 5/8"
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2 1/8"
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Cast-off at Comb
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Cast-off at Heel
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1/16" (approximate)
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1/4" (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:
Roger's cocking levers patent no 397 of 1882,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Perkes ejector patent no 12176 of 1887,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.