doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lesser name gun makers.

Looking at the upcoming Holt's Auctions and comparing a few guns with ones in my collection I have found I have fallen for several makers without knowing it. I have several examples of W. R. Pape's, J. Blanch and Joseph Lang and see several others in the upcoming auctions that I would love to add to my collection. All box locks and hammer guns. Guess I have never become a true side lock fan and still see box lock and hammer guns as great guns to own and shoot. The interesting thing is what a high quality they put out mid grade guns they are. I have found they are very well made and a real bargain.

For less than a grand, in many cases less than $500.00, you can buy an excellent gun by one of these three, where you would be lucky to buy a worn out major name maker's gun for less than a grand, several grand to be honest. I know most makers could make a gun to suit every buyer request, to what ever they were willing to pay for. My three favorites all seem to give quality on a fairly consistent basis and with better engraving than I expected. I wish I had not wasted so much time lusting for one of the big three names. I missed a lot of great values I am sure. Do you have a lesser known maker favorite like Dougall, Powell or Boswell? Who are your lesser known favorites.

I picked up a nice CS Rosson BLE out of Holt's not long ago, used it on Blues last fall with good results. I really like it, pretty gun, well made and I shoot it pretty well.

I am partial to both Blanch and Lancaster. Most of the Blanches I have seen were nicely appointed and well executed. I am particularly fond of of the older back action with their house style vine engraving. They come every so often. Similarly with Lancaster. That odd mutton-chop side lock and engraving is well done. I asked the late Jack Rowe to examine one before he retired and I can remember his comments, innovative but flawed design, that single spring, but well appointed engraving. I bought it and still shoot it, occasionally. There are others but those two I still look for at Holts and other auctions.

My Daniel Fraser steel barrel hammer pigeon gun is my favorite. Proved at 1 1/4 ounces.

Fraser is not a lesser maker....Best quality Scottish, through and through.

Another is Edward Paton....a superb maker who finished gun for Boss in the 1870's, I have a wonderful screw grip double rifle by him.

There are some wonderful gunmakers lurking under the radar, as it were. One of my particular favorites is the firm of John Harper. There were three Harpers, Grand Father, Father and Son. All were immensely respected Birmingham gunmakers, respected not only by their Black Country peers, but also most tellingly by the best London makers.

In fact, Harpers made up many of the Robertson named Boss boxlock ejectors, the majority of Frederick Beesley's boxlocks, as well as those sold by Wilkes, Churchill, Woodwood and Pape.

Tim

I have a Charles Boswell hammergun with the Lancaster underlever that is a very nice gun and a number of other guns by known and unknown makers, but I guess my favorite right now it a J. Burrows hammergun that was #2 of a pair that had been re-stocked at some point. Re- chambered and re-proofed for 2 3/4" , probably in 2000, I can use whatever ammo is cheapest and shoots great.

I have a J Blanch box lock ejecter 12 bore from 1896. It is easily one of the best handling guns I have. Definitely a great maker, much undervalued.

All the best

Skeeterbd

Toby Barclay at one time was maintaining a database of Blanch guns on his web site. Believe he abandoned it after awhile - he was very meticulous in compiling information about the guns - perhaps too much so. He discussed this last fall at the Vintagers in Pennsylvania.

http://www.jblanchdatabase.co.uk/