doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Interesting English boxlock ejector at Hallowell

Knowing the roots of the gun extend to BSA, my estimate of price might be optimistic. Both here, and in Olde Blighty.

Best,
Ted

I wish to thank everyone who chimed-in. I have a far better idea of what I'm looking at, now.

Still fascinated by the thing. About how and why it came to exist. But now, I have a good few story outlines.

Aaaand I just thought of something: Could it have been a student/trainee engraver's pièce d'école? Did engravers of that era have trade schools to go to, or was it strictly apprenticeship?

Just an fyi Fudd, but Morris Hallowell is a weird duck. He comes up with some interesting stuff, but talking to him is like talking to a Martian. Y'all don't tell him I said that.
JR

Merci. Timing is everything. I was just contemplating mailing him to tell him that the hive mind here had pretty well established that the thing started out as a bog-standard, commercial-for-rebadging, in-the-white BSA, and linking to this thread. I'll now put the brakes on that, lest he excoriate and ablate us for obscuring his view of Venus.

I irregularly look at his offerings just to see what he's got, sort of the way I used to read the Eaton's Christmas catalogue when it arrived every November when I was less than four feet tall. I've never met the man nor spoken to him, but based on his ad copy, he seems to be a member of the "True Enthusiast" subcategory of humanity. I know a few of those, might in fact be one, and I tend to look upon them kindly. I enjoy looking at what he's got up for sale, and reading his descriptions.

I still really like that shotgun. Hrm. Perhaps I should make him an offer in original series Star Trek credits. "Please ship via transporter."

I think in England they started an apprenticeship and at some point went to specialities like action work stock work engraving.but there were shops like kell ,jack summer that did engrave and train engravers

May I add the Henry Morris engraving shop in Birmingham to your list .

You are correct about apprentice ships , having been through this system myself . Although in my own time I was fortunate enough to avoid being to specialised and over my 48 working years was able to become experienced in actions , stocking and barrel work .

The gun we are talking about looks to be English work overall and has the look of a " gunsmiths gun" .By which I mean a gun that has been built or rebuilt with all the bells and whistles that you think a good gun should have ( The famous Scales gun being a good example )

The fact it is not signed is a mystery but IMO could have been made as show piece by a Gun Finisher , these were people who would work up barrelled actions for shops , smaller makers and do out work for larger companies , this could be a example of their work.
We may never know .

Thank you very much, sir.

I'm ignorant of the Scales gun, and it seems google-resistant. Are there pictures to see, anywhere?

Shooting Sportsman did an article on it, but you can’t get to the article online. Scales

It was for sale at Foxhill, but they have retired and the website is no longer active.

Ken

Merci. It seems they ran two articles about it, May/June and July/August 2007. I've just found a copy of each on Lithuanian Craigslist (in the, ahem, Personals section), and I've ordered them.

Gunmaker, you are most likely right about this gun. I was wondering what this gun would be worth where you are? You see how hot our debate is. I see nice box locks bringing very modest sums at auction but a few still bring respectable prices for highest grades or pristine condition. Is this a thousand pound gun? Twice that?