doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Wm. Powell & Sons 12g "Snap Action"

I brought home this Wm. Powell & Sons Lift Top Lever �Snap Action� 12 ga from an auction last weekend. I had not seen this type of action before and thought it was very interesting , I needed to examine it in detail.
There is absolutely no loosenes of the barrels in the receiver, even with the forend off, the fit is amazing. The locking surface on the rear barrel lug and the lifter lever are hardened tool steel inbedded, kind of like the hardened steel wedge on the rear lug/bite on Parker Bros. barrels.
I have read that this type of action dates back to 1867-9. The Patient #1287 is stamped on the water table. The serial number is 4947, can anyone come up with a year of production? The locks have rebounding hammers. Fitting the stock to the metal, wow, what a job that would be, note that the bottom of the receiver is wood!!
Now I will try to show some pics.

Jerry, are the tubes punched steel or pattern welded? Steve should be along shortly with the info you seek.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Jerry,
This gun was built using two of Powell's patents - No.1163 of 1864 (action) and No.1055 of 1869 (retractable firing pins).

It was part of an 8 gun shipment to Schoverling & Daly in New York on September 24, 1872. No. 4947 is listed as being 12-b with 32" Stub Damascus barrels and weighing 7 1/4" pounds. It is a "Plain " grade gun that cost �15.

Stock dimensions aren't listed but it appears to have more drop than those sold to English clients.

Any and all images are welcome - hi res if possible.
schmjh@pacbell.net
Steve

I missed a picture, will try to add.

Jerry,
One more bit of info. The Powell's Patent number (1287) indicates the number of times (to that point) Powell's snap action patent (1163 of 1864) had been used. Numbering started at 100 in 1864.
Ultimately slightly over 3000 were made (hammer, boxlock and sidelock).

Most of Powell's hammer guns used Stanton locks. If you ever have them apart - please let me know who the maker was.
Steve

Steve,
Wow, more information then I could hope for, Thanks.

I need brighter light setup for higher quality photos. I'll try to set up a better system.

The barrels on this gun are 27" and tips the digital scale at 7 lb. 4.4 oz.
The bores are to perfect, not a pit any where, they measure .724, both tubes, no choke, I think they have been honed, they are just to perfert.
Thanks again,
Jerry

Note that 13 gauge as marked for the original bores is .710" in size. How ever as Steve says this gun was shipped in 1872 it would precede the use of a 13/1 mark. Original bores then could have been anywhere from accepting a .710" diameter plug gage to a depth of 9" from the breech up to just not accepting a 12ga (.729") plug. Technically as it would still not accept the .729" plug it would still be "In Proof" from a standpoint of the bores.

1874 Schoverling & Daly Advert noting as being agents for Powell

This is very near the time that H.A. Lindner hung out his shingle and the marriage of Schoverling & Daly with H.A. Lindner really took off.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Nice bar-in wood action!

I think these are interesting guns, I have a Barratt and Sons boxlock, it was made under this lifter patent. The use # is 2951, I understand that this maker made several of these or at least 2, as this gun is the #2 gun of a pair. It was originally had Birmingham proofs but has been reproofed and carries London 1 1/8 nitro proofs. Sadly some idiot has refinished the wood with shiny varnish and has a poor recheckering job. Someday I will get around to redoing it.
More photos at: http://s36.photobucket.com/user/james-l/library/Barratt%20and%20Sons?sort=4&page=1