doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com John Blissett & Son island lock hammer gun, #1108

Thanks Ted, yes those can be seen on this side of the pond (much better than “content not viewable in your region”).

Patent No. 374 of 1870 is certainly J. Thomas’s Patent.

I have previously seen it [SEE CORRECTION BELOW], usually on Rook rifles, in a triangular surround as on this Thomas made Rook Rifle, originally a .380, bought in by Greener’s in 1881.



Curiously, although the Thomas Patents were for a single bite bearing on the rear lump this (the one re-worked by WWG’s son Charles for his daughter May Greener) and apparently the rest of the batch of about 12 bought in by Greener’s in 1881 had Purdey type double under bolts.

Oops! The triangular mark related to Thomas’s Patent No. 3091 of 15th November 1871 (again for a single bite action).

I’m wondering which book lists the serial numbers for John Blissett? I haven’t found them in any of my English gun books. I have John Blissett and Son serial # 4356 on the way to me and I’m wondering what year according to the records it was built.

Blissett serial numbers are in British Gunmakers, Vol. 3 by Nigel Brown. The list is not complete, but 4356 is in the group of 1867-1876, Brown's list of examples is quite small, so lots of interpolation might need to be done. The Internet Gun Club states that the firm used the name John Blisset and Son from 1867-1872. Somewhere between 1872-1876 the company was renamed Blissett Son and Tomes.

I'd guess then that this one falls into the 1867 to 1872 timeframe (as did the fellow who owned it before me). But because of the J. Thomas patent (#324 of 1870) that was employed to secure the barrels to the action, it is clearly now post 1870, so... that narrows it down to just 3-years of production, 1870, 1871 and 1872.

This is some fun, eh?

Someone could try doing what was done with Reilly -
-- Run Blissett's name through the London newspaper archives,
-- record dates when they moved and addresses;
-- compile a list of all known Blissett guns and their serial numbers;
-- then match the addresses on the ribs to the known move dates.
That's a lot of work though. (And believe there were several Blissett's)

Example: "London Illustrated News," 13 April 1847. Blissett occupies Reilly's former building at 316 High Holborn:

The 2nd underbite closest to the action is the barrel component of the J. Thomas patent (#324 of 1870).

I can't make out much from its 1st pass through proof here but the 2021 trip thru the London proof house is readily apparent.

I have to sit with some guns for a bit to fully understand them, and then... only in good light. Sixtyeight and sunny here yesterday (set yet another record) so I spent some time in the end-of-day sunshine, looking this artifact over more closely.














This weapon has seen very little use, and even more important...it has been well cared-for over the years (roughly 150 of 'em). With these high hammers being so close together (& w/non-rebounding locks) I can easily bridge them with my left thumb and sweep them both to full cock in one motion(!). I also see that the hammers nestle deeply into the percussion fences when closed and then these hammer faces are also recessed...so nice! (a remnant of percussion caps and eye protection needs I'm sure).

Lastly...I never seem to recognise laminated steel when I first see it. While it's almost always stronger than damascus it just isn't as pretty.

Oh well.

(Ted: can you work your magic so Parabola can see this?)

Lloyd,
Surely a perfect way to spend a beautiful day's end, with that lovely lady as well!
Karl

Lloyd, glad to see you enjoying it to the fullest. Your post entices me to reflect on my possessions with greater care.

Thanks, Harry