doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E Smith and Sons, Birmingham

I have this 12 bore that is a rather smooth self opener. It has 28" barrels and weighs a surprising, to me, 5# 15 oz. Bores still perfect at .729". Gun was made between 1954-1961 when the firm closed in Birmingham. Edwin Smith was an actioner and gun maker from 1914 to closing. Serial #276. Can anyone identify the self opening system ?

Daryl,
If you post a couple pics of the action flats, knuckle, & barrel flats, etc. that would probably help to identify the system used…or at least provide some clues as to what type of system might be involved..

Here are the "inside" views.



I see from the Birmingham mark, that it was proofed in 1963, a couple of years after the history I read said they closed.

When assembling the gun, the forend needs to start out at about 45 degrees to the bore, then pressed down , lowering [raising] the cocking dogs, to then latch on the Anson push rod.

Daryl,
Well, from the last set of pics…I really don’t see any obvious clues as to what mechanism is being used to provide the power for the easy opening system.
Legit “self” openers usually have to have a camming system or some type of spring system (ie ejectors, etc) to provide the self opening or easy opener power.
If this is indeed an easy opener…the power would have to come from the cocking levers I would guess. Pics of the lockwork/internals etc would be nice.

I put a bit more info with the last picture above. I wondered if the pin placements might help identify the system.

I can't help you one bit, Daryl, but dang, what a fine piece! The wood, the engraving (wow), and the amazing condition. Really fine double gun. Thank you for sharing it with us. More photos...
JR

Some clues eliminate some systems.

Cocking dogs eliminate it from being a Baker system (think Lancaster 12/20, etc)

It’s obviously not any Beesley type system

It’s obviously not a H&H system


Possibly a Boss type easy opener? A pic of the internals would confirm.


Daryl,
Do the ejector stems have constant pressure on them? When the gun is disassembled, are the ejector stems sticking out like they’ve been fired?



No visible pin for holding the bolt system for the Smith easy opener…

It could be the later Churchill/Baddock patent of 1936 “jumping Jack” system that was a redesign of the Smith system?

No, the ejector stems do not jump out like some Cogswells. It seems a bit easier to operate than my turn of the century Purdey.

I’m thinking a variation of a Boss system. Have to see whats going on with the bar of the action. A pic with the locks removed would confirm it.

Does the gun open easy after it’s fired or does it seem to open easier when it’s unfired?

The gun , unfired, opens itself to the full open position. When fired, the gun comes open somewhat less forcefully until it reaches the ejector trigger position. Then hand applied more opening trips the ejectors.