James Woodward & Sons, 64 St James's Street, London
12 bore Back Action Hammergun
no. 3306. No 1 of a pair.
Year of manufacture: 1875.
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Any gun by James Woodward is relatively rare and exclusive but
hammerguns are particularly rare and this fine example of the
Woodward and Emme patent is a real find. No doubt invented to
get round the classic Purdey Bolt patent of 1863, this patent
uses the rear lump bite of the Purdey Bolt combined with twin
lateral projections on the front lump to, in effect, give a treble
bite action. Also rather than use the long flat spring of the
Purdey patent, it uses a shorter 'V' spring mounted in front of
the trigger box.
The gun has been TIG sleeved as the original damascus barrels
were way beyond saving and this coupled with the sensitive restoration
makes it a very pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either
game or clays.
Presented in a contemporary Oak & Leather case with some accessories
and a reproduction Maker's 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;
Stanton rebounding, back action locks with high 'Hare's Ears' hammers;
Percussion fences;
Sidelever, operating a modified 'Purdey' type bolt;
Cross bolt/Wedge forend fastening.
Engraving style Very Best Foliate Scroll.
Rounded action bar with the under-bar engraved 'WOODWARD PATENT'.
Gun weight 6lb 10oz
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼
lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
The TIG sleeved barrels are 28" 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 2017.
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")
|
0.726"
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0.033"
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0.013" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.725"
|
0.034"
|
0.021" (Mod)
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The original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for
a right-handed shot, features a white metal oval engraved with entwined
letters (indistinct) and is finished with a 1 3/8" leather covered
recoil pad. The forend has two inlet repairs to its edge and 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 3/4"
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14 3/4"
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14 5/8"
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14 7/8"
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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 5/8"
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1 15/16"
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2 7/8"
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Cast-off at Comb
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Cast-off at Heel
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1/8" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867,
Woodward & Emme bolting patent no. 267 of 1872.