doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William Powell Hammergun.

Powell made guns with lift-up toplevers from 1864 if I remember correctly.

I have been using a 16-bore version, also a bar-in-wood, by WS Reilly of Birmingham. This also has loaded indicators in the shape of brass rods prodruding through the fences, pushed up by extrusions from the breech face, which come into contact with the heads of the cartridges, when the gun is closed.

The gun weighs 7lbs and shoots very nicely with no flexing in hand or bar felt upon discharge and little felt recoil. I shot it in the british side by side championship this summer hand have used it with some success on walked-up and driven pheasants.

The downside of the design is that when loading fast with cold, wet hands in the field, the thumb is liable to slip when pushing up the lever and you skin the back of it on the sharp angles of teh hammers.

With use, the lever can get quite tight and it requires a lot ofeffort to open. When clean it works fine. Interesting practical points that perhaps help to explain why the top-lever and Scott spindle took over in general favour.

Daryl,Here is the address for the relocated William Powell:
Carrs House, 1 Tramway, Banbury,Oxfordshire, OX165TD.
E Mail http://www.william-powell.co.uk
You are correct when you comment on the excellent quality of guns made by William Powell. Powell,s quality earned him the pseudonym,"The Purdey of Birmingham".This upset the late Athol Purdey, resulting in a sharp exchange of letters between Messrs; Purdey and Powell, which I am pleased report ended amicably.This exchange of letters is covered in the book,"Purdeys" by Richard Beaumont, pages 95-98.
Based on recent auction and advertised prices for best English guns, Powell,s guns are in my opinion a "best buy" if quality rather than name is important to the purchasor.
The Powell lifter action is covered in detail in the book, "The British Shotgun'Vol 1 By D.Baker & M.Crudgington,; Pages 139,140,141.Relevant patents are ,Lifter Action #1163 of 1864; Load indicator #1055 of 1869.
Frankly I get very nostalgic when it comes to Powell guns, reliving the countless visits to their Birmingham shop over a period of almost 60 years!

Steve, I will find out the serial number but I seem to recall that it was not far away from Dwight's number 4654. The gun I was looking at was part of a numbered pair. The owner had shown it to Powells and also mentioned that he had through his hands another gun with one of the Burton-upon-Trent maker's names on; I can't recall if it was Barratt or Coltman, but this one had been made by Powells who said that they were the only people who they made lift lever guns for, and then only a few. This gun was a little more unusual in that the barrels were Whitworth patent with both being bored from a single piece of metal and not jointed and ribbed in the ordinary way. I don't see many of these guns but do remember some years ago seeing another that belonged to Air Vice marshall 'Johnnie' Johnson. Sadly he passed away a few years ago.

CBC1, the shoot takes place monthly at Yeaveley in Derbyshire. It takes the form more of a meeting of vintage gun enthusiasts who just happen to shoot a round of clays. Some very interesting guns turn up. Usual attendance is around 8 to 12 people. Lagopus.....

A friend sent me this photo of a Powell, marked Perrins and Son. Patent 1163 of 1864, use no. 360. Serial 2263.The gun has a different style of engraving than some others seen.

Roy, thanks for the contact. I'll give it a try. Daryl

Daryl,
Thanks for the great photo. I own 12-b Powell pinfire back-action 'lifter' Serial number 3810 (Powells Patent 331) that was sold in 1867.
The pictured gun is probably a pinfire conversion.

Daryl, that is most interesting as it shows that they did make these guns for others in the trade. They said that they only made some for a Burton gunmaker but this throws a new light on things. Thanks. Lagopus.....

Powell's Number 1 patent (1163 of 1864)doesn't appear to have been the subject of study. I hope that someday I can study the Powell ledgers. Based on my study to date -- this is what I think I know.
The total number of 'lifters was likely in the 3500 to 4000 range. The first would have been at about Powell serial number 3300/3400.
I know that Powells Patent 122 is on a gun with serial number 3577 (c.1865).
The latest for which I have specifics is serial number 10025/Powells Patent 3078 c.1895.
I have located 'lifters' in 10,12,14,16 and 20-b as well as .500 3-inch BPE. Actions include, back/bar hammer, A&D boxlock and sidelock ejector.
Powell did supply lifter actions to the trade. I have seen two, one of which was a bar-in-wood hammer gun with the name "Robert Jones" on the locks.

I have access to William Powell and Son Gun No 7116 Powells Patent number 2295 (includes ss within the powell patent stamp, numbers appear to be seperate individual stamps.It is a Bar in wood , centre fire , top lifter lever,hammer 12ga Game gun marked as No1. It incorporates a Deeley & Edge Fore end latch system but no licene use no. Bbls are marked 12b,13m choke but no " Not for Ball" marking.I guess it was made 1880 poss early 81. Stock is Cast ON.
Regards

Hugh,
Thanks for the information on No.7116. I am currently restoring
No.7193 (Powells Patent 2312) -- a 12-b bar-in-wood Best hammer gun. The Powell ledgers show that the gun was sold on August 28, 1880 for £30. The Powell records don't include patent use information.
All of the forend latches I've seen to this point were either wedges or Anson's.