Today, I acquired a shotgun that I knew would be mine from the day I first saw it at a local gunshop many months ago. Unfortunately, someone had seen it first and had it on hold. Weeks passed, and the gun sat there. Finally the store agreed to a cutoff date, after which it would be mine. The claimant bought it 24 hrs. before cutoff. AAArg! A month or so later the gun was sold to an acquaintance of mine, which I learned of months after the fact. He didn't want to sell me the gun either, but I asked him to call me if he ever changed his mind. Yesterday (4 months later) he called. Today I finally have the gun. Why did I know that I would eventually end up with this gun, you ask? The gun is cased, and on the case are the initials of the original owner - which also happen to be MY initials. Some things are just meant to be.
The gun is a 12 gauge bar action sidelock hammer gun with intercepting sears, Purdey double underlug bolting system worked by a Scott spindle and top lever. A doll's head extends from the rib of the 30 inch, 3 bar finest Damascus barrels. Those barrels are choked about IC and Mod, perfect for distances suitable to the 2 1/2 inch black powder cartridges it is intended to shoot. The bores, forcing cones and chambers are original and near mint, with no pitting. It is the right barrel (front trigger) which is choked the tightest. This gun was made for shooting driven birds, where your first is further away, and the second shot closer in as the birds fly towards you. The concave game rib is tipped with a silver bead. The gun weighs just over 6 3/4 lbs. and has a straight grip stock and a splinter fore end with a Deeley fastener. The dense English walnut has pleasing high contrast grain with good figure and warm colour. The stock has a few "character marks" but nothing serious. The butt end of the stock is furnished with engraved heel and toe plates.
The sidelocks, frame and furniture are all fully engraved in foliate scroll. All the screws are unbu**ered and still properly timed. There are still traces of case colour on the locks. The long bottom tang stretches back about 7 inches. The top tang is very narrow and graceful. The gun is as tight as the day it was made, which by my best estimate was 120 years or so ago.
The gun was made by Mortimer and Son of 86 George Street, Edinburgh. The Mortimer line of gunmakers is old, having been formed by Jackson Mortimer in 1796. Mortimer made guns in London until 1833, and then moved the works to Edinburgh. In 1938 Mortimer & Son were amalgamated with John Dickson & Son. They still have some records, I will have to write and see if they have any info on this gun.
I am more than a little pleased with this old girl. She is in fantastic shape. The wood to metal fit is still absolutely perfect, microscopic, 120 years later. Try and find wood like that today. The barrels need to be rebrowned, to show off the amazing Damascus pattern. The stock is too short for me, and I will have to use a slip on pad for now. I have a supply of black powder shells, and I am sure I can find a safe "nitro for black" load for these barrels. There has been much discussion on this board about the correct way to take a ruffed grouse. I assure you that shooting one on the wing with a hammer gun and black powder loads is not disappointing.
DISCLAIMER: The following photos were not taken at my house, and obviously a little earlier in the year. When I get another camera battery, I'll post some close ups.
And a link to a big picture:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/sharptail/mort5.jpg
Sharptail
The gun is a 12 gauge bar action sidelock hammer gun with intercepting sears, Purdey double underlug bolting system worked by a Scott spindle and top lever. A doll's head extends from the rib of the 30 inch, 3 bar finest Damascus barrels. Those barrels are choked about IC and Mod, perfect for distances suitable to the 2 1/2 inch black powder cartridges it is intended to shoot. The bores, forcing cones and chambers are original and near mint, with no pitting. It is the right barrel (front trigger) which is choked the tightest. This gun was made for shooting driven birds, where your first is further away, and the second shot closer in as the birds fly towards you. The concave game rib is tipped with a silver bead. The gun weighs just over 6 3/4 lbs. and has a straight grip stock and a splinter fore end with a Deeley fastener. The dense English walnut has pleasing high contrast grain with good figure and warm colour. The stock has a few "character marks" but nothing serious. The butt end of the stock is furnished with engraved heel and toe plates.
The sidelocks, frame and furniture are all fully engraved in foliate scroll. All the screws are unbu**ered and still properly timed. There are still traces of case colour on the locks. The long bottom tang stretches back about 7 inches. The top tang is very narrow and graceful. The gun is as tight as the day it was made, which by my best estimate was 120 years or so ago.
The gun was made by Mortimer and Son of 86 George Street, Edinburgh. The Mortimer line of gunmakers is old, having been formed by Jackson Mortimer in 1796. Mortimer made guns in London until 1833, and then moved the works to Edinburgh. In 1938 Mortimer & Son were amalgamated with John Dickson & Son. They still have some records, I will have to write and see if they have any info on this gun.
I am more than a little pleased with this old girl. She is in fantastic shape. The wood to metal fit is still absolutely perfect, microscopic, 120 years later. Try and find wood like that today. The barrels need to be rebrowned, to show off the amazing Damascus pattern. The stock is too short for me, and I will have to use a slip on pad for now. I have a supply of black powder shells, and I am sure I can find a safe "nitro for black" load for these barrels. There has been much discussion on this board about the correct way to take a ruffed grouse. I assure you that shooting one on the wing with a hammer gun and black powder loads is not disappointing.
DISCLAIMER: The following photos were not taken at my house, and obviously a little earlier in the year. When I get another camera battery, I'll post some close ups.
And a link to a big picture:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/sharptail/mort5.jpg
Sharptail
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