Watson & Son 12 Hammergun Underlever

Watson & Son 12 Hammergun Underlever

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Watson & Son 3594

12 bore under lever hammergun with rebounding locks. Not to be confused with Watson Bros This family traded in London around the 1900's for a period. What we do like in particular about the gun is the condition of the 30" 2 1/2" Damascus barrels, The bore sizes are .722"  and .723" Original proof of .719" Minimum wall of .031" and .036" no choke  with clean bores.

Stocked to 15 1/2" with 1 3/4" extension.

Oak Case with its original label

 

 

watson bros

Museum

Watson Bros 16 over under Special

Watson Bros 16 over under Special 

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Watson Bros 16 bore Over Under

A rare fine specially engraved 16 bore over under.

Made with 29" barrels choked 1/2 in both barrels with 70mm chambers. 1/4" tapered flat filecut top rib. A roundbody sidelock ejector gun, auto safety fitted with single trigger with rolled edge triggerguard leading into a prince of wales grip.  Beautifully figured best walnut stock of 14 3/4" length with cast off 5/16" and a bend of 1 5/16" 2".

It took many months to engrave this unique style by Erich Friedrichson. The left lock adorned with woodcock flying in amongst the bramble and gold inlay oak leaves. The right lock has a covey of Partridge in a similar fashion. With Pheasant rising underneath the gun. If you think it ends there you will be mistaken, Oak leaf in relief all over the gun.Of special interest is the pistol cap and the lever , the fine detail of a pheasants head carved and pierced on the lever complemented with carved pheasant on the action breech.

The gun completed with a weight of 6lb 9oz

Wrapped in its deluxe case.

 

 

watson bros

£47,000

Watson Bros 12 Superlight

Watson Bros SuperLight 12

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Watson Bros 12bore SuperLight

A 12 roundbody superlight side by side self opener. 

Made in 2010 a delightful game gun designed for the shooter who likes to carry a light gun but with a pattern a 12 bore. Ideal for partridge , Quail . A slim roundbodied self opener double triggered gun with 70mm chambers and the added support of sideclips. The 28" barrels are proofed at 18.6 with bore sizes of 7.32" and .733" minimum walls of .028" choked Right 1/4" Left 3/4" .The  stock measurements are Length 15 1/2" bend 1 1/2" 1 15/16" with Cast off 5/8" and a straight hand.The original client an extreme sportsman spared no expense in the design of his gun with the Beautiful roundbody all brought together and wrapped in Edwardian  scroll complimented with the heel and toe pieces , rolled edge trigger guard and one of the prettiest stocks you are ever likely to see.

Interestingly this gun was made as a pair separating them at birth as the client only wished to take one gun. There is a photo of its sister still in the white ready for stocking, we have added this image should a prospective purchaser be interested.

Weighing 6lb 1 oz

 

Cased with accessories.

£33,500

 

watson bros

£33500.

Watson Bros 12 BORE Restoration

Watson Bros 12 Bore

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Watson Bros 12bore 8065

12 Bore

Beautiful 1920's Watson Bros 12 bore side by side sidelock ejector. Rebarrelled by Michael Louca in 1993 in 28"  with 1/4 and 3/4 chokes and 70mm chambers and game rib. Bores are both .728" with minimum walls of .030".

A double triggered gun that has had an extensive restoration to include recut engraving and recolour hardening. The gun has a 15" stock including a 3/4" leather covered pad.

Weighing 6lb 9 oz

Cased with accessories.

 

 

watson bros

£8950.

Purdey 20 Bore B-I-W Hammergun/Museum

Purdey 20 Bore B-I-W Hammergun | Museum

 

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What a privilege it is to have been allowed to purchase This Purdey Bar-in -Wood hammergun,serial no.9777

What makes this gun so special?

Apart from being a 20 bore , it has two original sets of 30" Damascus barrels one engraved on the shield plain and the other choke. Both pairs of barrels are in proof with thick walls and clean bores.The original stock is in fine condition as is the engraving.As with all hammerguns from this era it has rebounding locks. The action engraved by James Lucas who developed the Purdey rose and scroll.

The original lightweight oak case has its original tools and some added by the family that owned the gun. We decided not to do a thing to this gun , not even clean the case, for fear of ruining the patina. The real rarity  about this gun is it was acquired from the original family that ordered the gun back in 1877. Please read the fascinating history below. We have put together a family tree to show the passage to the last family owner whom we purchased the gun from.

Christopher Owen writes,

completed in 1877 for Mr J. R. Wright.

John Reid Wright (1819 - 1896), a distiller and merchant. Was the second son of John Wright of Knockupworth Hall in Grinsdale, Carlisle, and Ann Wright (née Anderson). He moved to London and worked in the distillery business with John Reid, who was Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers in 1804. He continued the business – John Reid Wright & Co Ltd, distillers – after Reid’s death in 1836.

The Worshipful Company of Distillers may have more information about John Reid Wright and the business.

The connection between the Wrights and Reid, I presume they were related in some way. Certainly John Wright's second son was given Reid as a middle name and John Wright also named one of his daughters Lucretia. John Reid's wife was named Lucretia. Given the dates, John Reid Wright must have been sent down to London when very young.

In the 1841 census, John (55) and Ann (50) Wright were recorded at Knockupworth Hall, along with children Lucretia (25), Eleanor (25) and David (20), who was styled as a ‘farmer’. David Wright (b.1921) was the third son of John Wright and married Ann Gillbanks in 1852, moving to Scoathwaite Close Farm in Ireby. He was my grandmother’s grandfather and died just before his father John in 1860.

John Reid Wright must have been staying at Knockupworth Hall for the 1861 census, possibly because his brother and father had just died. It recorded Ann Wright (72) as head of the family, with son John Reid Wright (41), daughter Mary A Thompson (35) and granddaughter Jane Eleanor Wright (3).

John Reid Wright was recorded in the 1871 census as living with two servants at 26 Aldersgate St., London, and remained there until his death in 1896. He acted as executor for brother David Wright (d.1860), father John Wright (d.1861) and mother Ann Wright (d.1881). It may be that Knockupworth Hall was sold at this point or soon after.

John Reid Wright didn’t marry. His probate record shows he left an estate worth £23,166 and his two executors were Mary Ann Middleton (b. 1854 née. Wright) and Margaret Elizabeth Wright. Both ladies were daughters of David Wright. I’m afraid this means that the portrait that is marked as being of John Reid Wright, is almost certainly not him. It must instead be a portrait of John Reid, because it is paired with a portrait of Lucretia. It also explains why the clothing appears to be early rather than late Victorian.

Another of David's daughters, Jane Eleanor Wright (b. 1857) married Robert Peat in 1886. They had a son, Robert Wright Peat (b. 1899), who was my grandmother’s first cousin (known as Robin). He worked as a land agent and lived at Raughton Head, near Carlisle. At some stage, the gun was passed to him.

On his death in 1977, Robin's widow Margit gifted the gun to my late father John Owen. His grandmother (and my great grandmother) was Ann Gillbanks Todd (née Wright), who was born posthumously to David in 1861.

Margit wrote the attached letter. She records the gun as having been nitro proofed circa 1925. She also says it was made for Robin's 'grandfather’ however, I think she was mistaken and it was actually made for his great-uncle. It passed to me when my father relinquished his gun licence around 2010.

Another of David's daughters, Jane Eleanor Wright (b. 1857) married Robert Peat in 1886. They had a son, Robert Wright Peat (b. 1899), who was my grandmother’s first cousin (and always known as Robin). He worked as a land agent and lived at Raughton Head, near Carlisle. At some stage, the gun was passed to him.
Margit wrote the attached letter. She records the gun as having been nitro proofed circa 1925. She also says it was made for Robin's 'grandfather’ but I think she was mistaken and it was actually made for his great-uncle. It passed to me when my father relinquished his gun licence around 2010.
The memorial from Grinsdale church which includes various children of John Wright as they died. John Reid Wright’s name says  "In Memory of John, son of John Wright ... and his wife who died at ... 1816 aged 2 years. Also of Easit their daughter whose truly Christian virtues and amiable disposition endeared her to all who knew her, she died at Knockupworth Hall November 20th 1837, aged 20 years". Also of William their son who died Feb the 6th 1852 aged 28 years. If upright worth and virtue claimed a tear Tis justly due to him who sleepeth here Grateful, affectionate just and kind His memory is dear to those he left behind. Also of Jane their daughter who died at Knockupworth Hall June 26th 1857 aged 30 years, Dearly beloved to all who knew her and a kind friend to the poor. Also John Reid Wright who died at Aldersgate Street London July 3rd 1896 aged 77 years."

Left handed 12 Bore High Pheasant

The High Pheasant Left Hand Opening

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Watson Bros

12 bore 

32" barrels with 3" chamber, full choke with an elevated ventilated rib
What adds to the uniqueness of this gun is that it is a true left handed gun with left handed opening and a roundbody single trigger
As ever the 15½” stock is made from deluxe walnut
Adorned with our Edwardian scroll and carved pheasant with the lovely touch of raised lettering
The gun weight is 8 lb – ideal for heavier loads
French blocked case with canvas outer, accessories included

 £48,000

1920’s Watson Bros 28 Bore

Watson Bros 28 Bore

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Watson Bros

28 Bore

Beautiful 1920's Watson Bros 28 bore boxlock with 28" Damascus barrels in excellent condition.

We have decided to fully restore it, including converting to ejector. Restocking, new pins, complete overhaul internally and rebrown Damascus.

Blazer 12 Bore

Blazer 12 Bore | £3,300

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Blazer

12 Bore

  • Blazer 12 Bore with 3" chamber
  • Barrels 32 elevated ventilated rib
  • Multi choke
  • Deluxe stock 14 3/4" with 3/4" pad
  • Weight 8lb 3oz

£3,300

Watson Bros 4 Bore

Watson Bros 4 Bore| £95,000

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Watson Bros 4 Bore.

36" Barrels with 7/16" concave rib. Action made from a drop forging with third grip and clips. 4" chambered to shoot up to a 4 ounce load with full choke in both barrels. Single trigger sidelock ejector with carved fences and gamescenes of geese in flight complemented with name inlaid in gold and open scroll pattern by Pete Spode. Stocked with a pistol grip and the depth of the stock left fuller to accomodate shortening.  Designed by Michael Louca and made in our Towerbridge factory.    Finished weight of 17lb.

All for the sum of £95,000

£ 95,000

C. Boswell 12 Live pigeon.

Charles Boswell 12 Bore Hammer Ejector| £32,000

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Charles Boswell 12 Bore original Live pigeon gun Ejector.

This is the earliest example of a pigeon gun we have seen with all the modern attributes that we come to expect. Fortunately  the gun was in great shape when it arrived. The Damascus barrels are very sound and clean with a minimum wall of Right .027"  Left .031” The chokes are both 1/2. The top rib is a 7/16” flat filecut (typical pigeon). Nitro proofed 2 3/4”  18.7 Bores. The small scroll engraved action has a third grip and sideclips as you would expect. The 14 3/4” pistolgrip stock is in very good condition with heel and toe pieces and pistol cap. The forend is a beautiful early beavertail.
As we loved the gun so much we decided to convert to ejector , the preferable non self cocking type  to keep the romance of recocking the hammers . The gun weight is 8lb.

The work to be completed is in the finishing, regulate the ejectors , rebrown barrels and colour case harden the action. completion can be expected in 6 to 9 months.

The case it came in was not correct and we have cased it in an original Charles Boswell hammer gun case from the period .

All for the sum of £32,000

£ 32,000

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