Stephen Grant & Sons 12 Bore Sidelock Ejector with 30” Barrels and Highly Figured Stock and Forearm – No.1 of a Pair

Description:
   ***   JUST IN FROM THE UK   ***   Refurbished by Toby Barclay of Heritage Guns   ***   This Grant number 6377 was made in 1891 is a superb example of a Best London sidelock ejector from this highly respected gunmaker, made in the heyday of the British gun trade. Although undoubtedly a Grant gun, details of its internal mechanisms suggest that the gun was actioned in the workshop of John Robertson. Robertson was arguably the top independent London gunmaker, actioning, stocking and screwing guns for nearly every big name in the capital and beyond. He became the proprietor of Boss & Co in 1903, having been a partner in the company since 1891, but maintained his factory at George Yard where he made guns for Boss and many others of the leading London makers, moving to Ham Yard in 1899. According to Donald Dallas, Robertson's trade actions were very distinctive in having an angular internal junction between top strap and action. Also, his locks were unusual in using his own hook design for an interceptor sear as opposed to the Block Safety used by Holland & Holland and Scott. Furthermore, the design of his favoured safety slide detent mechanism, a variation on the 'over-centre' system, appears in all his patent specifications drawings although not mentioned in the text. Lastly, the ejector mechanism is the functional equivalent of provisional patent no 11623 of 1887, produced by the collaboration of Henry Holland and John Robertson.

All these features can be found in Grant gun no. 6377. The action is delightfully engraved, shows lots of original hardening colour and is in fabulous condition. The original wood has great figure and dimensions and the 30” steel barrels have been sleeved and recently re-proofed for 2 3/4" nitro cartridge. This all adds up to a strong gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many years of service on game or clays with normal maintenance. Presented in a beautiful oak & leather case with some accessories and a reproduction Stephen Grant & Sons trade label.

The action is of traditional bar action sidelock design and features:Top lever opening, operating a classic, double bite 'Purdey Bolt' via a 'Scott Spindle'; Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide; Roger's cocking levers; 9 pin bar action locks; Interceptor sears; Disc set strikers; Coil spring ejectors tripped by slides in the bar of action and Anson's push rod forend catch. Gun weight 7lb. Engraving style Very Best fine foliate scroll with substantial original hardening colour. Finely carved action bar. Beautiful, fluted fences engraved with Acanthus leaf. Gold inlaid SAFE and ‘1’ on toplever and forend tip.Top rib and ejector box engraved ‘1’. Barrels, action, forend iron & triggerplate stamped ‘6377’. Locks signed ‘STEPHEN GRANT & SONS’. Top rib engraved with Maker’s details and ‘PATENT EJECTOR’. Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs.

The sleeved steel to steel barrels are 29 7/8" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'through' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Barrels are free of any pitting or marks internally. Top rib is of the smooth, concave game type.There is a little ‘bleaching’ at the sleeving joint. Birmingham reproof for 2 ¾” nitro powder cartridges in 2024. The right barrel is bored 0.729 with a constriction of 0.005 for Skeet choke. Minimum wall thickness 0.032. The left barrel is bored 0.731 and has a constriction of 0.020 for Modified choke. Minimum wall thickness is 0.032.

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 well defined drop points, a vacant white metal oval and is finished with a 1” leather covered recoil pad.The forend features a finely engraved steel tip. The gun balances 0.6" in front of the knuckle. Stock dimensions are 14-3/4” including the leather recoil pad by 1-9/16” by 2-3/8”. Cast off for the right hand shot.

The approx. 24 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 luster, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.

   ***   US AGENT FOR HERITAGE GUNS UK   ***

  ***   Please note that the photographs are part of the description. Not for sale where prohibited by state or local laws. Buyer is responsible for all shipping, insurance, and any other related charges. I give a 3-day non-firing inspection period which begins when it arrives at the buyer’s FFL or specified address if the gun is classified as an Antique. Returns at buyer’s expense.   ***


 

Antique: Yes

Price: $12,495.00