doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What is this?

From an 1892 London makers catalogue:

�My semi-hammerless double grip action �special� gun. This is an excellent gun for keepers and emigrants, its quality, style and performance is far in advance of any other gun of its class.�

This gun (the line drawing shows it with rebounding hammers and a Jones under-lever) was for sale at �7 guineas. There is the Emigrants Outfit which includes:

�The above gun, fitted with waterproof case - �1. Complete set of strong fittings for loading, recapping, reloading cartridges and cleaning - �1/7/0. 200 best cartridge cases, 2 lbs felt wads, 1000 card ditto and 500 caps to recap - �0/10/0. The lot complete - �10!�

This gun was his cheapest own name offering.

Next up was this:

�My new model top lever semi-hammerless �special� gun.� Available for �10 guineas, there is no suggestion for whom the gun might be suitable! (The line drawing shows a hammer gun)

Then moving up again was this:

�Body patent special hammerless gun� Available at �13/10/0 for the plain version or up to �35 with very best Damascus barrels, ejectors �5 extra. (The line drawing shows an A&D action)

The best quality top lever, bar action guns with Whitworth steel barrels were available at �45 with �5 extra for ejectors.

On a separate page listing all guns that can be supplied, the lowest price is for a 12 bore �suitable for use at sea, or rough work� at �5.

Tim

Hi All
I just thought this may be of interest to you, in the picture is a true country poacher�s gun it belonged to a very good friend of mine who is now poaching in that large estate in the sky it belonged to his grandfather who was a Shropshire poacher come game keeper in the 1800s. It was also used by his farther who was also a game keeper come poacher in Cheshire. The gun is near to top quality its action and locks where made by �Joseph Brazier� who was at the time one of the many gun component suppliers whose locks can be found on some of London�s Victorian first line makers. This gun has a Manchester gun makers name on the lock plates. The violin case is a rather cheap Victorian wood offering in which the gun has lived in for over a century, though it has been refurbished inside and new handle and catches fitted. I am sure that if a poacher is going to risk the noise of a gun while plying his trade he would want reliability above all, for if he was caught the penalties here in Britland where draconian.

Interesting violin "What I was doing in the wood and what is that? I'm a-going for the country dance next village an' that's my fiddle I will be playing at the dance. Play for you? No way, I won't even take it outa case, too damp in here!" Thanks for sharing

Looks like the Brits came up with the violin case idea before Capone and the other American gangsters of the 20's for their Thompsons.