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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3 |
Years ago a cased Wm. Evans sidelock passed through my hands to Ian Nixon a member of this board. This one, on the other hand, I'm keeping: a 1901 Wm Evans full rose and scroll boxlock with original condition - #56XX Thanks to this board and all who, over the years, taught me about shotguns and encouraged my pursuit old double guns. Cheers!
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1 |
Beautiful that is for sure, well done on the pick up !
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,228 Likes: 674
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,228 Likes: 674 |
Beautifully executed boxlock! Most likely from the early era of those guns. Can you tell us more about it?
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3 |
Yes, there is an interesting story about how the metal work remained in that high a condition. The serial number # 56XX, dates the firearm around 1901. The shotgun has a beautifully figured dark walnut that was dropped on the toe of the butt early in its life. I suspect that the shotgun was a gift or heirloom that was kept for an extended period of time in that broken and unused state. The wrist has since been expertly repaired by a craftsman of the highest order. There are five wood pins hidden throughout wrist and at the butt that can seen if you really look for them. I purchased the firearm based on the condition of the barrels and the receiver at well below market price. It's really hard to find working shotguns with straight and clean screws of this age. Also, I truly appreciate the workmanship that went into restoring this piece to a fully functioning, working firearm. A flat of Kent Elite 2 1/2" 3/4oz, # 8s are on order and pattern very well out of these 28" barrels choked SK and IC.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3 |
I noted that the conversation went dead when the Evans was understood not to be a pristine, 120 year old virgin piece, but rather was once a very broken item. There are two wood dowels and three pins visible along the right side of this gun stock. Please give me a moment to give you my perspective. I once had the privilege of watching a highly regarded craftsman, Arthur Troth repair a 1899 Savage rifle one Canadian morning that had also been broken at the wrist. When Arthur snapped the remaining slivers of wood that held the stock together my heart stopped. I bit my lip when he broke the bent metal of the butt plate clean as a whistle. Conversely, when he pinned the pieces back together again with hidden dowels and metal rods to reinforce the area, I marvelled. I was watching a master at his craft with numerous areas of expertise. After he touched up the points of checkering and blended in the new finish with the century old varnish to cover his practiced hand, I began to get a glimpse of the alchemy I had witnessed. Similarly, seeing a Japanese master practice the art of "kintsugi", the repairing the treasured rice bowl as it were, leaves me in awe. I am a man climbing in years, of limited means but with deep appreciation of great workmanship from another age. Thus I'm thrilled to own an example of a working firearm from a bygone age that is not only an example of the British high art of gun-making but hides the expertise of the master gun restorer. The pristine ones can remain unfired in collections and museums. This one is going bird hunting!
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3 members like this:
FallCreekFan, Buzz, HomelessjOe |
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,457 Likes: 88
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,457 Likes: 88 |
Original condition is in the eye of the beholder.
The late Thad Scott told me all the old English guns were color cased to protect wear to the metal and the engraving....so that coined/polished reciever and blued action plate with blued screws along with the blued top lever is s dead give away the metal was redone.
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 632 Likes: 93
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 632 Likes: 93 |
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 112 Likes: 3 |
English guns were color cased to protect wear to the metal and the engraving....so that coined/polished reciever and blued action plate with blued screws along with the blued top lever is s dead give away the metal was redone. Thank you. That explains why all the older English shotguns sold by this one dealer here in Canada have blued action plates - all have been redone as a matter of course. Cheers!
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,228 Likes: 674
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,228 Likes: 674 |
I love how William Evans signed his pieces "from Purdey's". I too shoot an early English boxlock (circa 1905) on game. For the money, they are an unbeatable value. Long, light and lovely! Lethal, beautiful and highly effective, in the early 20th century, boxlocks were marketed as "best" guns and received lots of attention from their makers. Engraving and wood were top-notch and many were made as pairs. By the 30s their "best" status devolved a bit (folks figured out how little time it took to create them, as compared to sidelocks) and they became more utilitarian. Still....for weight and balance, fit and finish, ease of carry afield, and dependable function you'll be hard pressed to find anything better to actually hunt with. The thin and beautiful wrists on many of these guns are a concern, so proper ammunition is a must (I'm a huge RST fan). Properly repaired and then reasonably cared for, I should think that it will outlast several owners after you. The screws on the back of the action near the top of the stock are indicative of intercepting sears. Later versions dispensed with this feature as the added time and cost (& genuine necessity) weren't considered reasonable (because of the substantial nature of the action sears, boxlocks seldom jar loose enough to accidently fire). You didn't mention weight or chambering, so I'm assuming 28 tubes, ~6 1/2 lbs and 2 1/2 chambers. Many that have found themselves over here (from "Old Blighty") have been opened to 2 3/4-inch (my 16 has and was even proofed for that). However, don't be tempted to use it with over-the-counter 2 3/4-inch ammo, or even high-volume shooting. These are game guns, period. Hunt with it and treasure it for what it is, 100-plus year old art that is still doing the job it was designed to do.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 07/01/21 11:44 AM.
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