doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Walter Betts heavy 12

I picked this up at the Vintagers and by all appearances it is a wildfowler. It is stamped B C Grade. Boxlock with sideclips and crossbolt 3rd fastener. He was a maker in St Mary's I have looked through my English gun books but don't find much.

Had a nice one. Maybe it is yours, Marked BC Grade. I assumed it was a pigeon gun, but may have been a waterfowler.

I love the font they chose for the gold inlay on the lever. It pops.

It really does. That's a beautiful gun. Thanks for showing it, Daryl.

I looked at that one long and hard at the Vintagers. That’s a great gun.

Only drawback is top lever spring is so damn strong it is hard to compress. I am going to see about having it retempered.

That’s not how you “soften” up the tension on a spring. The proper way to do it (especially for a spring that’s already been fit up to the spindle) is by very meticulously striking down the leg of the spring that is too thick.

I think you should leave it as is. Don’t mess with a spring that works….the stiff tension of that spring is actually doing a few things that are actually good for a fowling gun, like keeping good pressure on the locking surfaces.

Nice gun btw. I think “Harrison sporting arms” had the gun that Daryl posted pics of for sale on their site a couple months ago.

Dustin

The Birmingham date of proof code is 1934-1935; for a mean service pressure of 11,200 psi + 10-14% and max. service pressure of 12,300 psi + 10-14%

It is the gun pictured. Right at 8 lbs I think

I have followed and admired Walter Betts shotguns for years, and this particular Betts boxlock is a gem. I looked at the McNab website numerous times to admire this shotgun; and when I saw it was going to the Vintagers, I knew someone would see the value and buy it. There are a lot of Betts guns in Australia....or should I say there were a lot of Betts guns in Australia. There is quite a Betts following and admirers among those familiar with the Betts quality. If I had been younger with more hunting days ahead than I now have, I would have purchased this one as soon as McNab posted it on their website. Nitrah, you did really well with your purchase.