doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com British hammer gun

I'm looking at a British gun, sorry no pictures, I saw it on a recent road trip and it interested me. It's a 12 gauge hammer gun, 32" fluid steel barrels, it's carrying Nitro Proofs 1-1/2. I'm assuming that's a very stout proof, can anyone confirm? I don't know what the chamber lengths are. It has moderate scroll engraving and very plain wood POW stock, though it does carry a silver owners shield. On the rib is A&W McCARTHY DUNEDIN serial #139993. The gun has a Greener cross-bolt, side clips and is on face (though the toplever is dead center). The top rib has two ivory beads.
It looks like it would make a nice sporting clays or duck gun.
Steve

Your gun is Scottish. Dunedin = Dùn Èideann, Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh, my old stomping grounds.

I do not think so in this case. I believe that A&W McCARTHY DUNEDIN was a retailer in New Zealand.

The 1 1/2 bit will be proof for 1 1/2 ounce of shot indicating a 3" chambered gun. Lagopus.....

Have you checked to see if the top lever can even go past center. I have two doubles on which the top lever always stopped at center & always will, one English the other German. Neither has "Wear Compensation", both are over 100 yrs old & both are still tight & on face.

PS; Make that three, my rod cocking Lefever always closes with the top lever centered, though it does have wear compensation via a screw in the top tang, just doesn't affect where the lever lands.

Indeed, McCarthy was a sporting retailer like like Calelas in Dunedin South Island. His guns were private labeled made in Birmingham and were provincial status but could they put rabbit, possum and kiwi (sic) on the table. Even Hardy Alnwick made brass fishing reels with McCarthy's name

Rock, note that the 1 1/2 oz proof is typically for a 3" chamber, but at CIP proof pressure, not for SAAMI shells!!! The steel tubes are not usually particularly strong (hard) as compared to more modern steel tubes. This is most like a fairly typical Birmingham hammer gun fowler. Similar guns show up in UK auctions from time to time.

Wow, Birmingham to Texas via New Zealand. It must be fate. Don't anyone worry about me shooting heavy loads through an old gun, even if the barrels are sound, that 100 year old stock might not be. I was mainly looking at the gun for sporting clays shoots with the local sxs crowd. Living in Houston, I only wish I hunted ducks, however I like to hunt actively, sitting in a blind is misery for me. I also like to hunt game that I expect to eat, wild ducks and geese taste too much like liver for me to want to eat them. Until I (1) sell an oil prospect I'm marketing or (2) get a job, I'm not buying any guns, I just hope that old hammer gun is still there when either 1 or 2 happen.
Steve