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Apr 27th, 2024
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,486 Likes: 393
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,486 Likes: 393 |
Like Rocketman said, the forearm shows lots of use (checkering worn to the nub). Add replacement barrels, Id wonder if not at least a bit tired, if not more so. Id want to examine that gun closely before I jumped in. A lot would depend on the price for me. As a side note, I once asked David Trevallion what he thought about Henry Atkin guns, and his response to me......theyre old. I shoot a gun made in 1920 that works as well today as the day it was made. Old doesnt matter. Condition does.
The world cries out for such: he is needed & needed badly- the man who can carry a message to Garcia
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744 |
Like Rocketman said, the forearm shows lots of use (checkering worn to the nub). Add replacement barrels, Id wonder if not at least a bit tired, if not more so. Id want to examine that gun closely before I jumped in. A lot would depend on the price for me. As a side note, I once asked David Trevallion what he thought about Henry Atkin guns, and his response to me......theyre old. I shoot a gun made in 1920 that works as well today as the day it was made. Old doesnt matter. Condition does. 1920 was a third of a mans lifetime, and perhaps the most important 30 years of critical understanding of production, composition, and development of steel since 1890. If we are still talking about the gun the OP is considering, the front wood and the inscription on the tubes give an indication of condition, and it demonstrates considerable use. Were it me in his shoes, that gun would be a conditional buy, with the passing of a completed inspection, gladly at my cost, by one of the recognized double gun smiths, say, Dewey Vicknair, Del Whitman, Kirk Merrington, or, whoever holds a similar reputation in Canada. That said, I admit it isnt me. Good Luck was a statement I didnt mean lightly. Few things in the hobby burn money faster and harder than a sick sidelock with a pedigree. Best, Ted
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17 |
Well, I own it now. The condition was much nicer in person than in the photos. Action is tight, bores are flawless, ejectors work. It's lovely. The fore-end is better than it looked in the photo - the wood is very dark, not oil-saturated. Yes the checkering worn but it was very shallow and flat-topped in the first place. I may not have it refreshed at all.
Regarding the rib inscription, I had mistakenly related to Nick it read "Barrels Re-fitted by..." and his thought, maybe in the nature of devil's advocate, was if they can't get the terminology correct then maybe its fair to change it.
Rocketman, do the numbers come out the same whether side lever or top? Not debating here, simply curious.
thanks everyone for your insights.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,749 Likes: 744 |
I hope it is a wonderful gun for you.
Keep us posted.
Best,
Ted
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Sidelevers are uncommon enough I haven't gotten a statistically significant difference. I think it is more of a specialized interest. Like anything, when two guys of means go at over the same gun at an auction, all value bets are off. I, personaly, conclude that the top lever wins against all comers for practicality and aesthetics. Fashion wasn't the deciding factor.
DDA
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 427 Likes: 76
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 427 Likes: 76 |
Well, I own it now. The condition was much nicer in person than in the photos. Action is tight, bores are flawless, ejectors work. It's lovely. Fantastic, Im pleased for you!
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
A very happy JB arrived at my home yesterday complete with the cased Atkin!
JB has asked me to share with you my thoughts on first sight of the gun.
A 12G S.L.E by Henry Atkin, No1 of a pair,circa 1895.An excellent example of the work of Henry Atkin, described by Teasedale-Buckle in his book, "Experts on Guns and Shooting"[Published in 1900] as one of the best gunmakers practicing in the London Trade.
The best quality replacement Damascus Barrels are engraved on the rib "Fitted by Webley and Scott limited, Birmingham." The "Limited",indicates that the barrels were made some time after 1897.
The barrel dimensions were measured and compared to the proof marks and confirmed to be," in proof". The chamber length was 2 1/2.Wall thickness of the Barrels was at least .025.
You will have seen from the pictures and comments by others that JB has a fine addition to his collection.
If this was my gun all that I would do is to; strip, clean and refinish the wood.
NB:
It is highly likely that the Damascus barrel blanks used to re;barrel this gun were drawn from old stock made By W & C Scott.so as to match the original barrel material.
It is not uncommon to encounter re;barreled #1 guns; likely because it was the #1 gun that got the most use!
Last edited by Roy Hebbes; 04/09/19 09:31 AM.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 150
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 150 |
John, congratulations on the new addition to your collection. Looking forward to seeing it.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,377 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,377 Likes: 105 |
Interesting thoughts about the tubes fitted by Webley & Scott. Of course that would have required reproof. And unless there was yet another reproof after that (I was unable to tell from the proofmarks I could read on the flats), the reproof for those fitted barrels took place no earlier than 1925. (Chamber length wasn't marked prior to that, other than for guns with exceptionally long chambers.) So the suggestion that the barrels are old stock makes a lot of sense. Not a lot of new Damascus barrels being made after 1925.
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 156 Likes: 17 |
Re: Mr. Hebbes
Roy, it was such a pleasure to meet with you, see your guns/books/accoutrements, and bask in your experience and British vintage gun knowledge. Thank you. Spoiler alert: I did not buy just one fine gun on Sunday.
James, Patrick, and Stephen - thanks for your kind words and you can certainly see the Atkin or even shoot a round of skeet with it at the SXS classic this June.
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