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I just picked up a nice little 12 gauge boxlock. It is a D.H. Wallas, of Wigton & Carlisle. Anyone have any info on this maker. I couldn't find out much other than he took over from his father, William.

I now have this gun in hand. Further info I could only find on this maker is that he was in business around 1910-1928 where it appears he went bankrupt. He died in 1937 at 53 years of age. I questioned the seller about the screw through the wrist and he thought it appeared a factory thing. Now looking at it, it appears to me that it might be factory as there is absolutely no gap around the edges and it is perfectly flush with the stock. I compared this gun to my Webley & Scott from 1906 and this Wallas is much slimmer through the wrist, another reason that I think the wrist screw might be original. Compared to the Scott, I find this gun overall to be sleeker, better handling and the quality every bit as good if not better. It also has nicer wood, greener crossbolt and the bottom is not pierced. The bores are mint. Wished it was a straight grip though. I don't suppose there is any way to narrow the year other than the time period the 12/c within the diamond was used.

hello,
i have information regarding the birmingham proof marks on this gun.
1....the BP,NP,BV all with crown used 1904-1925 proof also 1925-1954.
2....choke and 12 over c in diamond both used proof periods as above.
3....nitro proof 1 1/8 used 1925-54( in previous proof periods the 1 1/8 suffixed with max or shot)
4...HOWEVER,proof period 1925-54 should have chamber length
marked in inches eg 2 1/2" as well as 12 over c in diamond.
using the above information i would date proof as the change over between old period ending and new beginning 1925,
hence appx 1925.

i do not claim to be certain of the above info but i have interpreted the date charts as well as i am able and hope i have been of a little help.
cheers
mrwmartin

Makes sense-thanks.

there is a delightful online article from the cumberland news(carlisle and district)
with regards wallas gunmaker,i am not sure how to copy and paste link(if permissable)but i will try!
cheers
mrwmartin

sorry, i have not managed to copy and paste but if you provide email address i should be able to attach or scan the article

Link to article mentioned by Mr Martin is:

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sons-of-a-g...rrerPath=2.3064

Wigton is a typical north country market town just a few miles outside the English Lake District National Park. Not to be confused with Wigtown in Scotland.

Nigel

thanks nigel,both wigton and wigtown are on the solway firth,opposite coastlines of course, and are good wildfowling areas.the solway attracts large numbers of geese and other migratory and native wildfowl and both areas are also popular with gameshooters.i live appx halfway between the two.thanks again for link.
cheers
mrwmartin

Yes, thanks for the link. For a 12 gauge I think it would make a good upland gun because of it's slimness and handling characteristics but she's choked pretty tight. But I guess if it came from an area where geese and waterfowl are plentiful, it explains the choking.

Sorry, didn't know you were local! My parents used to live just outside Caldbeck so I know the long straight road down to Wigton!

Nigel

gunsaholic,
Almost always when a pin/peg or screw is found in the wrist of a gun stock it indicates that the head of the stock was at one time cracked.The traditional repair[Other than restocking] was to glue the crack and fit a screw to pull the head together.Some times these screws are set in engraved plates fitted into the stock.This repair can be long lived but in any event the value of a gun with this type of stock repair is less than a gun with a sound stock.
See the Amateur Gunsmith by Desmond Mills and Mike Barnes page 151