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Forums10
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464 |
I would like to draw from the well, and wealth, of knowledge within this board. I looked at a Leech & Sons Boxlock #3608 today with 30 inch fluid steel tubes(roughly full & mod.), mirror bores, fantastic wood($2K today probably), long trigger bow. BUT there were 2 circular pearl inlays(nicely done) at the head of the stock, under which I believe to be a pin. After reading the posts on the Belgian/German double with the screw at the head of the stock, I was curious if any other Leech & Sons had such a pin? After first glance, I would consider an issue. Did they make the arms or did they just retail. Last with the above description, would it fetch of $1500?
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,393
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,393 |
Leech and Son of Chelmsford, Essex, UK are in the same category as KD Radcliffe of Colchester, also in Essex. They both bought Birmingham guns after having their names rolled on. I have seen a lot of both, usually a very nice BLE, well worth buying, but never with any sort of pearl inlays, just not done on a British gun, you know? Where is the head of the stock anyway?
Mike, from Colchester
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464 |
Mike:
Thanks. I have heard(or made it up) that the head of the stock was were the receiver/wood interface would be. If there's another term, or if it's incorrect I'd like to know. I have seen it on a few German guns, but it was masking something. By the way, it was reproofed/reproved in England for Nitro(and possibly 2 3/4" shotshells). I just don't need another project, or big project gun. So, who would have made it for them?
KInd Regards,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,983
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,983 |
The head of the stock is on the opposite end from the butt.
> Jim Legg <
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
It is possible that the stock on this gun had a crack on at the head. Cracks on the centreline of the stock at the head end are some times repaired by gluing and fitting a bolt sideways through the stock to act as a clamp in order to prevent extension of the crack. I have seen many such repairs, some times the bolts are engraved to match the action of the gun. In this case it is possible that the pearl inserts have been used to cover the bolt.
Guns by K.D.Radcliffe were made by the Birmingham firm of Wrights,their work was of the very highest standard, infact they made most of Churchills box locks in the 1970,s, if these people also made Leech,s guns it will be truly of best quality.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,349 Likes: 464 |
If anyone is interested to see a pic of the stock with the pearl(?) insert and can tell me how or where to upload the pics, then I'll attempt to attach a couple.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,393
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,393 |
ellenbr, can you take a digital pic and e-mail pic to me at mbonner@mts.net? Yes, Roy, the KD Radcliffe BLEs are superb, the Leeches the same, buy either one. My family's guns were overhauled by KD Radcliffe's staff at the end of the season. My uncle had a beautiful 16 ga BLE KDR. I was over in England once and visited him and asked if I could buy the gun, he was 70 and in poor health, and he told me he had sold it as it was not worth hardly anything. Probably the local police made a visit and gave him 25 pounds to keep it out of the hands of yobboes. They would have pulled his shotgun certificate anyway as he was not going to use the gun again.
Mike
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