doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Chas Lancaster wrist breaker chambers

I purchased an abused 'Wrist Breaker' (serial #7354) for restoration from a friend yesterday. I reckon the gun dates in late 1893. On the barrel flats there is an engraved text

2 3/4" cases

Inside the diamond stamp there is the "12 C". No nitro proof stamps. I've googled these guns for a while now, and have only seen indications on two and a half inch chambers. Can anyone of you guys tell, whether these guns were manufactured at that time with long chambers? Or have the chambers on this gun been modified at some time later?

Also the striker discs are somehow loose; they are flush with the standing breech but they can also be protruded some 1,5mm ouwards. They are not the typical screw-in discs with wrench holes, but solid ones with only the striker hole in the middle. Is this how they should be?

Regards,
Sakari

Doesn't sound right. If reproofed for 2 3/4" it should read "70mm", etc. if it was made with long chambers..it should have a 12 over LC. The disk for the disk set strikers are held in by a small pin on the top of each fence or "ball". So yes, that is how they should be. Try tightening those retainer pins to take away the disk movement.

Thanks for your input LeFusil. BTW, You've shared some excellent photos on Wrist Breaker in your earlier posts. Much appreciated!!

I would have guessed that using metrics in chamber stamp took place somewhat later? Here is a photo of the engraving on my gun. I took some photos quickly with my mobile yesterday, and the quality isn't too good. Sorry for that.

The "case length" text seems original... Well, kind of, an�way. Of course it could have been added later, but why engraving and not a stamp?

As regards the C or LC in the diamond, at least Nigel Brown in his British Gunmakers vol. 1 p. 427 says in referring to the period 1887-96 that "initials LC indicated a long chamber of at least 3 inches."

It's good to hear that style of striker discs sounds original. The retaining screws are already flush with the fence surface, but I just have to examine it a little bit further. Unfortunately I don't have the gun at hand right now, and I'm not able to provide any further info on the details.

Regards,
Sakari

Possible. I have a Jeffery hammer trap gun of around the same vintage and that has 2 3/4" chambers. The only clue is the chamber length marked very small on the forend loop under the barrels. Black powder marks with no indication of chamber length. I have since had it re-proofed for nitro. Lagopus.....

Of course don't dismiss the obvious that the chambers have been deepened at some point in the guns life .
It was always a point to watch out for when buying English guns in the US for retuning back to the UK .I have seen numerous of all makes and ages that have been so treated .

Thanks Lagopus and Gunman.

Surely it is possible and also very plausible explanation that the chambers have been deepened at some later point.

I considered that when thinking about buying or not buying. However, I reasoned that gun is so inexpensive that it is worth buying in any case.

In its present condition the gun is definitely not a collectors item, but I consider it as a good candidate to further hone my developing restoring skills. The buttstock is somewhat crudely repaired at wrist; wood not too fancy and very worn out; loose rib at front sling swivel; small dent on the right barrel; all original colours gone etc. However, there's no rust or pitting, and the gun seems to be tecnically OK. Also the barrels are off-face only very slightly

Regards,
Sakari

I believe this to be correct. In fact the way I read the definition in the proof law it seems to state the LC was to be applied to any chamber "Longer" than 3". There are however known guns having 3" chambers both with & without the LC mark. Seems as if some of the proof house workers themselves were not absolutely certain as to whether or not to apply it to a 3" chamber, but I have no knowledge of its having been used on a chamber shorter than 3".

Chambers are original.

OWD

Thanks for your input OWD.

I'm glad to hear what you just said. However, I would be extremely happy to learn a little bit more. What exactly brings you into this conclusion that chambers are, in fact, original?

I'm not saying that I don't believe what you say - rather the contrary!! Obviously it's a good thing for me if the gun is not altered. I just want to learn more about this.

Best regards,
Sakari

Chamber length wasn't marked as part of proofing when your gun was made. Neither was load size.

The 12/C mark could be either 2 1/2" or 2 3/4".

Since the flats are marked 2 3/4" and the mark looks old, I'd say the 2 3/4" chambers are original. The maker put that mark their to make the distinction.

The proof house added chamber lengths and load sizes to their marks at later dates to clear these things up.

And Nitro Proof didn't come in until 1896 (from what my reference says).

So that's my thinking ... Hope it helps.

OWD