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."

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

Watson Bros Pair 12 bore

Pair 12 bore Watson Bros Boxlock| £7950

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 Watson Bros Boxlock Ejectors 7396/7

Built in 1909, these best deluxe lightweight Boxlock ejectors are so typical of a style that befits the period. Made with 30"  barrels  choked 1/4 and 1/2. Chambered to 2 3/4" with a minimum wall thickness of .020". The 14 1/2" stocks are complemented with 5/8" buffalo horn extensions done to suit the period with chequered butt ends and engraved pins.Cast off to 3/8" with a Gun weight of 6lb 8oz.

Stock dimensions are 14 1/2” length with 5/8” horn  Bend  1 9/16”    2  1/32”   Cast off 3/8”

Bore sizes are 1 Left .735” Right .732”  2 Left .736” Right .734”  min wall 1 .021” 2 .020”

Adorned with the finest small scroll with Oak leaf carved fences and Scallop back actions, these guns come in their original case which has been sympathetically restored.

All for the sum of £7950.

£7950

Watson bros .410″ Ejector

Watson bros .410" Boxlock Ejector| £7,750

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Watson bros  .410" Boxlock Ejector

Made in 1907 with 26" barrels. Chambered 76mm 1200bar and choked 1/2.

Action with third grip extension for these heavier loads.

Beautiful pistol grip with a sliver of buffalo horn pad complementing the 14 1/4" stock.

Embellished small scroll with Watson Bros London in raised lettering on the underside.

All for the sum of £7,750.

£ 7,750

Gun History

Gun History | £75

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Watson Bros Gun History

Watson Bros was founded by Thomas Watson in 1875, taking over the premises of Durs Egg. In 1885 Thomas Senior handed over the firm to his two sons - Arthur and Thomas. The Watson Bros records go back to 1875 from our original premises in Pall Mall all the way through to Towerbridge Road where we manufacture and restore guns today.

Should you purchase the history of your gun:

  • Please send us an enquiry through our contact form or email us at admin@watsonbrosgunmakers.com and include the gun serial number, the name of the gun as well as any other relevant information.
  • Please note that the name of the gun should be either Thomas Watson or Watson Bros -any other name is not associated with ourselves and we do not hold any records.

We will respond once our research is completed, usually within two weeks.

£75

Boss & co 12 Hammergun

gun history

Boss & co 12 Sidelever Hammergun. £19,950

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Boss & co 12 Sidelever Hammergun. £19,950

Made in 1883 this original rare Boss side lever hammergun in the longterm ownership of W.H.Tucker who fought in the First World War (docs available) and whose name is embossed on the case.

serial number 3970 with 30″ Damascus brls, 2 1/2″ chambers outstanding bores of L .730″ with min wall .036″ R .731″ with min wall .033″ open chokes.

Gun weight 7lb 1/2oz

Perfectly executed profuse fine scroll

Looks to be original stock of 15 1/2″ with extension of 1/14″

in its original case embossed W.H.Tucker.

£19950

£19,950

Watson Bros 12 Bore side by side

Watson Bros 12 Bore side by side

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 Watson Bros game gun

12 BORE /side by side

Beautifully restored by ourselves this 12 bore sidelock ejector.With very good condition 27" barrels with 2 3/4 chambers, 1/4 and 3/4 chokes. Minimum wall thickness of .028" in both bores. Bore sizes of  Left .731" Right .732" proofed at .729"   Engraved with small scroll and name inlaid in gold. Carved breech ends and all set off with case colour hardening. All wood stock length of 14 3/4". Wrapped in its beautiful lightweight leather case.weight 6lb. 10 oz.

£8,450

Watson Bros 12 Bore

side by side| £sold

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Watson Bros. 12 bore side by side deluxe

 

Gun 8004 Built in 1920 - Best side lock ejector - 30" barrels choked full and half with .733" bores. Very good wall thicknesses of minimum .027" and game rib.

This double trigger gun has a third grip, auto-safety and is profusely engraved by Harry Kell in his signature style.  The gun has been restocked to 15" with a beautiful piece of wood that befits the period.

The gun weight is 6lb 10oz

Complimented with its beautiful original case,  restored but keeping its original label.  Complete with its original tools and accessories and for protection, a deluxe new canvas outer.

 

 

£sold

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