James Woodward & Sons,
64 St James's Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Sidelock Ejector
no. 4988 (No 1 of a Pair)
Year of manufacture: 1896
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. This gun exhibits Best design and finish in every
respect. It is very likely that this gun was actioned in John
Robertson's workshop (of Boss & Co fame) as it uses his favoured
style of internal action layout and interceptor sears.
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.
In the recent past, the stock and forend wood have been professionally
replaced with some lovely timber.
The engraving is really in first class condition and this combined
with sensible barrel dimensions and spectacular wood, makes it
a very pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either game
or clays. Presented in a relined contemporary Oak & Leather
case with some accessories and a reproduction Maker's trade label.
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;
9 Pin bar action sidelocks with bolstered tumbler pivots and gold lined
cocking indicators;
Disc-set strikers with vented retaining pins;
'Robertson' style interceptor sears;
'Rogers' style cocking levers;
Toplever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a Scott Spindle;
'Perkes' ejector box, tripped by slides operated by Purdey style tumbler
bosses;
'Anson' forend catch;
Side clips and arcaded fences.
Engraving style Very Best Foliate Scroll. Gold inlaid SAFE at
slide and '1' on top rib and toplever.
Very probably engraved by Kell or Sumner.
Gun weight 6lb 11oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼
lbs, Rear trigger 4 lbs
The TIG sleeved, chopperlump Whitworth Fluid Pressed Steel barrels
are 28" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges
and are of brazed chopperlump construction
with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 1997.
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 |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.724"
|
0.033"
|
0.012"
(IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.724"
|
0.035"
|
0.020"
(Mod)
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The replacement Straight Hand Stock and Splinter
Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut and the stock is
cast-off for a right-handed shot, features well defined drop points,
a white metal oval engraved 'TPW' and is finished with a chequered
butt.
The forend has a finely engraved steel tip.
The approx. 24 lines per inch chequering has
been refreshed to its traditional design.
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
|
15 1/4"
|
15 3/8"
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15 1/4"
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15 5/8"
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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 5/8"
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2 3/8"
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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;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Perkes ejector patent no 12176 of 1887;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.