"The Automatic" patent was originally for a hammer gun which lever cocked the exposed hammers on opening, a very novel idea at that time and the automatic reference. Just neater 'n all get out for hammergun people. The under lever allowed simple linkage as opposed to a top lever. JW made a number of attempts to circumvent the Purdey patent, but wound up using it most of the time. Toby has /has had some interesting variations, one a scissor type bolt. A few hammergun "The Automatics" were made, but most were hammerless as the hammerless guns were quickly becoming the fashion.
The earliest "The Automatic" ejector in my virtual collection is #3761 for 1880. I would not be surprised to find it was converted at a later date. The next is #4323 for 1887 and ejector guns are fairly common thereafter. The last UL "The Automatic" in my V-collection is #5479 circa 1900, a non-ejector shot and ball gun.
DDA
I like the idea of virtual collection---easy on the pocket book for sure.
However, I would like to try the "real deal" on clay targets one day, maybe even some feathered creatures.
Yes indeed to both propositions. (1) The original "Automatic" was a self-cocking hammer gun; and (2) I have a
virtual collection that includes one such Automatic hammer gun. This one is a rifle - a .577-500 BPE.
Again, I don't own this rifle and don't know who does own it. I scarfed the photos off the internet for my virtual collection.
On the other hand, I do own a fantastic hammerless Woodward Automatic double rifle in .450-400 3-1/4" BPE. I don't mind showing it off either:
More details are here:
Woodward Automatic Double Rifle Our good friend Eightbore was with me when I bought that rifle!
Curl
![[Linked Image from rbsiii.com]](http://www.rbsiii.com/Guns/Purdey_500_top_360.jpg)
