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.

It is my 3rd or 4th heavy Britt boxlock and finally one that also balances well. It has messed up my thumb due to stiff opening, so that has to be adjusted

Nitrah,
I would not be surprised if a proper strip and clean cured your stiff opening problem. Frankly, my experience with Betts shotguns causes me to question any need for any further work. Betts was a meticulous craftsman, and his shotguns are held in very high esteem because they worked and held up in the shooting fields to whatever conditions they were subjected. IMHO, stiff opening probably isn't a spring problem.......

Note that it is Proof tested for the old British 3" cartridge which was a 1 1/2 ounce load. All modern 3" cartridges are too hot for this gun. The 2 3/4" magnum loads with the CIP mark on the box are suitable. It has the appearance of a live pigeon competition gun. Very nice. Lagopus.....

Indeed lagopus

Major Sir Gerald Burrard, The Modern Shotgun, 1955, 3rd Revised Edition Pressures converted from Long Tons/ Sq. Inch at 1”

Standard Load.....................Standard Service........Max. Service
12g 3” 1 1/2 oz. 3.57 Dr. Eq.........9,632 psi.............12,320 psi
(1 1/2 oz. with 3 3/4 Dr. Eq. is 1260 fps)
12g 2 3/4” 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/4 Dr. Eq...9,296 psi.............11,984 psi

It is clean as a whistle inside. I like the gun, the dimensions are perfect for me but it has caused me to get tendinitis bad in right thumb, limiting all kinds of activities.

I saw that gun, liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I didn't inspect it closely enough to realize it had 1 1/2 ounce proof and 3" chambers. My mistake.