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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
A quote from the Modern Shotgun,By Sir Gerald Burrard,Vol,1 PAGE 79 "I do not think that any unbiased person could deny that the back action sidelock is the stongest action with the bar action side lock next and the box lock a poor third." I don't agree based on the fact that if he was correct they would never have went out of favor with the big makers. I'm not up on Double rifles from what I've saw they seem to have developed a little slower than shotguns....action wise.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96 |
Sadly Midland Gun's records fell foul to the attentions of Hitler's bombing campaign in the last war. The wavy lines on the rib, as you say are similar to Parkers, this is another fairly typical feature of Midland Guns, although not exclusively. The number 25302 could be one of their numbers. I have about half a dozen guns by this Maker and all are later than yours and with higher serial numbers as expected. They were into six figure number before the last war.
Quite true, the checkering is not typical British style but again there are exceptions. I have a gun by John Fry of Derby with the same style of checkering.
I have a Demon model in 12 bore that is a later gun and by then it has the cross bolt closure. The 20 bore Demon that I did have (wish I still had) had a top rib extension that was in the shape of an ace of clubs and fitted a slot in the action of the same shape. I can't remember the number but it was a fairly early model with damascus barrels. I would be interested if your catalogue, Roy, shows this feature. Lagopus.....
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
The #5 is likely a manufacturing lot control number.Low cost guns of this period were made in small batches,[often out sourced]from components that were not completely interchangeable. Each gun in the batch was hand finished to acceptable standards and the control # was stamped on the key components so as to ensure to ensure that they stayed together through to completion of the gun.It is surprising that #5 is not evident on the action of the Grove.Perhaps when the action is stripped and cleaned you may discover a #5 stamped some where on the action. In the case of more expensive guns the serial # of the gun was used for lot control.
Lapogus; my Midland catalogue shows hammer guns with dolls head rib extensions and Greener cross bolts.The "Demon' gun shows a third bite in the dolls head. No sign of an ace of clubs/clover leaf rib extension![ In the past I have owned best guns of the same era that Clabrough made that used used the clover leaf rib extension]
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
Back action locks are not out of favour!Holland and Holland,s new "Paradox" gun is a back action side lock!See Double Gun Journal spring 2009, Page 133.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96 |
Thanks Roy. It is the only Midland that I came across with this feature. Just sorry I parted with it. Someone in the Trade said he wanted it for his young son so I sold it to him for what I had given. It wasn't long before it was being offered in his shop for a decent markup. I didn't get stung that way again. Lagopus.....
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