doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com H. Bissell??

Although we haven't quite nailed down H. Bissell, I commend all of you for your research and answers. The photos, including the workshop , are fascinating. About as "nice" as Birmingham boxlocks get in my opinion.

Superb little boxlock. I was hoping the proof marks would show a date letter code. As it hasn't got one it would indicate a date between 1941 and 1950 when they dropped the mark for some reason. The thing that interests me is the JA letters on the barrel. I bought a J & W Tolley 2" chamber boxlock ejector the other day which I know was made by Skimmin & Wood in 1936. That has the exact same mark (JA) on the barrels. Someone who worked on both guns? I will ask a Gunsmith friend who is knowledgable about these marks and see if he can come up with an owner to those initial. Very nice indeed! Lagopus.....

Thanks to all!!

Raimey those are scratches not letters

An engraver friend thought the engraving looked like Kell.

Now I need to see if I can shoot it, at 5.3lbs I usually have trouble with guns that light

hello all,
i used to own a ward and son (2? st mary row )boxlock.it was made in 1956 and it also carried the ja stamp.
i was told,correctly or otherwise,the initials stood for joe ashbury(or similar)barrel maker.
cheers
william martin

It could very well be for Joe Ashbury if he worked for Adams and Tait, which was a barrel making firm with a joint effort by barrel maker Arthur Adams and Joseph Henry Tait(I would assume he was related to ole Alexander Henry of Henry rifling) whose firm was sourced by firms utilizing Henry rifling, or Alexander Henry himself, as well as Hill & William's air rifles. I think they were located on Price Street. But I would guess there was an next generation of John Adams, a decendent of pistol peddler John Adams from the 1850s/1860s. I also guess the "J.A." to be a son or decendent of Arthur Adams. I'm still curious as to the letters below(above) the "J.A.".

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

What you are seeing by the J.A. is scratches

I have pulls taken from the engraving of the Morris guns formerly in my collection. The engraving of the hungarian partridge is identical to that seen on the Bissell. This is why I believe the engraving is by Morris. This can likely be confimed by Ron Collings the expatriate British engraver based in California. Ron is familiar with Morris,s style/work.

It is a nice example of a typical "Gun Gaffer" gun. I just put two unfinished JA marked guns away on my WIP shelf with a hope to finish them out next year. Jack Rowe Identified them as follows:- the "gun gaffer" ie,G.E.Lewis,Wm Ford,George Bates or in this case H.Bissell get an order for a gun, in this case 20ga light game gun fully engraved with game scenes. An order was sent to John Ashbury who made up the barrels, machined the action forging (you'll probably find JA on the back of th action below the bolt way as well)and Joined the barrels to the action, fitted the bolt work and lever work ( usually Greener lever work)Back to Gaffer, who then sent it out to an action filer for external shaping and instalation of tumblers,sears).It then went back to gaffer who submitted it for final proof with everthing out except lever bolt and loose tumblers. Back to gaffer,out to ejector man for ejectors, springs, cocking levers,and fore end iron and catch.Back to gaffer then out to furniture filer for
bottom plate,trigger plate, triggers and safety.Out to Screwer,back.Finally filed off,back and rough stocked, out to polisher.back, out to engraver,back out to hardener(probably Harry Woodward polisher and harder).All other parts blacked/colored then back to finisher and freer who may be the Gaffer.He would strip completly free up any binding,checker and finish wood re assemble pack the gun and ship!!
It sounds very long and be laboured but all of these skilled specialist tradesmen could be found within 50 yards of the front of No10 St Marys Row.Up to date progress reports could be gotten
over a pint in either The Gunmakers Arms,Bath St or The Bull's head at the intersection of Price st and Loveday St.

HL - great description of the process whereby a trade made gun came to life. Is "Harry Woodward" of the same family as James W. of London fame? What about relationship to Thomas W.?

Many years ago, I saw a pair of fine percussion dueling pistols that I believe were by Bissell.......or was it Bissett?