The Gun Case Thread
- Thread starter Londonshooter
- Start date
I actually just bought a violin case last saturday for the purpose of converting it. Unfortunately my slim lil sxs 12ga doesnt fit so a short barreled pump will find its home in it
To keep the thread building, here is a Westley Richards in its original case. The case is worn and lacking its straps, the baize is frayed and torn, but it has the original label, key, and cleaning rod. As to the gun, hop over to the SxS pic sticky for a fuller account of this rare gem. Can you spot the difference with the more usual WR guns?
Violin case you said? Well, how about a violin style gun case, this is a gun case thread after all. This is a registered trademarked design called "The Featherwieght", and judging from the original gunmakers's label it was put into service ca 1930-1935. Aside from the shape, the unusual thing about this case is the construction, the body is constructed entirely of moulded leather, there is no wooden frame or box either in the case or the lid. The case is very light, very solid, very rigid even at 85-90 years old so the design is a good one. This particular case fits a 20 gauge gun with 28" barrels and is currently without an occupant. Despite haunting gun shows, forums, auction sites and dealer's sales sites for many years, the only other one I have ever seen was just a picture in one of my reference books. I undersatand that these are highly sought after in Britain but they never seem to come on the market.
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Very nice!
This one much heavier. I'm speaking to a fellow about possibly selling it so had out today for some photos. A little too sunny for good photography.
This one much heavier. I'm speaking to a fellow about possibly selling it so had out today for some photos. A little too sunny for good photography.
Canadian Made Leather Case
The gun is a Westley Richards 12 ga droplock two barrel set made in 1949 for the Lt Governor of B.C.
Sorry for the upside down pic---its upright on my computer but goes upside down when I upload.
This case was made by Bob Land, a name I am not familiar with---I'm hoping that someone can shed light on this talented craftsman.The gun is a Westley Richards 12 ga droplock two barrel set made in 1949 for the Lt Governor of B.C.
Sorry for the upside down pic---its upright on my computer but goes upside down when I upload.
Attachments
This is the case for my 1899 W.R. Pape boxlock. Interestingly while researching on gun nutz I found another user who has a Pape made in 1906 with the same name on the case. He had purchased the records for the gun and found that the man named on the case had it delivered to "The School" in Durham
Well I emailed the records keeper at the main private school and Durham England and he got back to me with all kinds of info on the original owner.
William Edward Wilkinson was born in Durham England in 1869, he coached rugby, cricket and the shooting team from the late 19th to early 20th century at Durham school. He and his two brothers signed up with the Canadian Dragoons in 1911 and in 1916 was assigned to the 4th. E York regiment. One brother died at Ypres while he and another survived the war. They moved to British Columbia to grow apples in 1919 when they resigned from military service. William became the headmaster at a private school in B.C. which explains how his guns came to Canada. I actually found a pic of him and some students in the early 30s.
Well I emailed the records keeper at the main private school and Durham England and he got back to me with all kinds of info on the original owner.
William Edward Wilkinson was born in Durham England in 1869, he coached rugby, cricket and the shooting team from the late 19th to early 20th century at Durham school. He and his two brothers signed up with the Canadian Dragoons in 1911 and in 1916 was assigned to the 4th. E York regiment. One brother died at Ypres while he and another survived the war. They moved to British Columbia to grow apples in 1919 when they resigned from military service. William became the headmaster at a private school in B.C. which explains how his guns came to Canada. I actually found a pic of him and some students in the early 30s.
Wonderful research, bravo! This kind of information adds so much to these guns. Unlike throw-away items of today, these guns were someone’s pride and joy, and often passed down through the generations. It is a bit of a cliche to say ‘if only these guns could talk’, but they do through the detailed histories of the makers and retailers, through the proof and makers’ marks, and through the histories of their owners. It is a rare occurrence when you have all three.
Here is a oak case from 1860
From the records this is one of 3 rifles bought by the same family and consective number and cost 82 pounds each
All were 40 bore 2 groove rifles and this is the only one that is know left of the 3 guns
Bullet mold is newer style for the gun being steel and hollow point and of course different serial number, the bullet sizing die die is the correct one for the gun
The other thing i like is the lid is modifiied for the rear sight
From the records this is one of 3 rifles bought by the same family and consective number and cost 82 pounds each
All were 40 bore 2 groove rifles and this is the only one that is know left of the 3 guns
Bullet mold is newer style for the gun being steel and hollow point and of course different serial number, the bullet sizing die die is the correct one for the gun
The other thing i like is the lid is modifiied for the rear sight
Attachments
Cow Town Bill, it would be great to see more pictures of your Westley Richards. Ashcroft posted some pictures of his Westley Richards not long ago and it looks absolutely stunning. I can't imagine what it is like getting to take a gun like that out in the field.
Many gun history books leave the impression that the progression between the percussion cap, the pinfire, and the center-fire systems appeared as a sequential evolution, and if you stand far enough back, there is truth to this. However, if you were living it in the early 1860s, there was no sequence at all, you could pick from any of them (and add needlefire and others as well). To illustrate this, here are three cased London-made guns from high-end makers, to make the point:
A 12-bore percussion sporting gun by Robert Adams, dating from the early 1860s by the address;
A 12-bore rotary-underlever pinfire sporting gun by Harris Holland, made in 1863;
A 12-bore slide-and-drop centrefire sporting gun by Charles William Lancaster, made in 1864.
A 12-bore percussion sporting gun by Robert Adams, dating from the early 1860s by the address;
A 12-bore rotary-underlever pinfire sporting gun by Harris Holland, made in 1863;
A 12-bore slide-and-drop centrefire sporting gun by Charles William Lancaster, made in 1864.
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Pinfire, nice ensemble from the 60's. As you would say, 'post war' - Crimean war! (Always great for a laugh!)
Great to see your loading and various accessories. My cases are loaded with them too, then there's the overflow area. I try to be a shooter rather than a collector but there's something about vintage cases, loading tools, and wood and brass cleaning rods that I can't resist. Soft spot for old decoys too.
I also admire the slide and tilt Lancaster very much. Winner of 2019 sxs classic, no?
Great to see your loading and various accessories. My cases are loaded with them too, then there's the overflow area. I try to be a shooter rather than a collector but there's something about vintage cases, loading tools, and wood and brass cleaning rods that I can't resist. Soft spot for old decoys too.
I also admire the slide and tilt Lancaster very much. Winner of 2019 sxs classic, no?
Londonshooter, for someone who claims to not be a collector, that's a fine collection of tools! I wish I had started collecting tools a long time ago... And yes, the Lancaster is the winner of the 2019 SxS Classic, to my everlasting delight.
Noobie81, the Adams is very much a muzzle-loader. They continued to be built throughout the 1860s, though in ever decreasing numbers. What is interesting in a muzzle-loader that can be dated to the 1860s is that these are the pinnacle in terms of design and manufacture, and it is up against these exquisite muzzle-loaders that the newfangled breech-loaders had to compete.
The Adams case is a gun room case, rather than a transportation case. Rather nice accessories with the Adams are the brass cap dispenser and castellated nipple area cleaner, hard to find on their own.
The Holland case is very much a transport case, leather and oak, and is two-tiered, with the cartridge tray below.
Noobie81, the Adams is very much a muzzle-loader. They continued to be built throughout the 1860s, though in ever decreasing numbers. What is interesting in a muzzle-loader that can be dated to the 1860s is that these are the pinnacle in terms of design and manufacture, and it is up against these exquisite muzzle-loaders that the newfangled breech-loaders had to compete.
The Adams case is a gun room case, rather than a transportation case. Rather nice accessories with the Adams are the brass cap dispenser and castellated nipple area cleaner, hard to find on their own.
The Holland case is very much a transport case, leather and oak, and is two-tiered, with the cartridge tray below.
