doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Daniel Fraser book by Kirton

Has anyone read "Daniel Fraser Gun and Rife maker of Edinburgh Scotland" by Jonathon Kirton? I am contemplating purchasing it but I am primarily interested in his shotguns. Does the book have extensive information on Fraser's shotguns or is it primarily focused on his rifles?

Primarily focused on rifles. Author points out that Scottish maker Fraser made one shotgun for every 10 rifles. Fraser's total output was less than 4000 guns....400 shotguns total. Fraser used the A&D boxlock but lengthened it to provide better leverage and a more elegant appearance.

Interestingly, during the same time period in Germany, Lindner of Charles Daly fame, was also lengthening the A&D action for his guns. Lindner's total production was about the same as Fraser's and during the same time period.

Both makers,independent of each other, developed very uniquely distinctive high quality shotguns based on the same patent at the same time. Sorry for rambling, I have and enjoy both Frasers and Lindner Dalys.

Jon S.

Interesting:

"Fraser used the A&D boxlock but lengthened it to provide better leverage and a more elegant appearance."

This doesn't look longer:


But this does:



Fraser is one of pair that went through Julia's a while ago:

http://www.icollector.com/EXCEPTIONAL-MA...ORIES_i15604974

OWD

I do not believe the Fraser pictured is anything more than a trade action filed up and fit by them, likely after the namesake had died. While it does have intercepting sears, the pivot is not located on the trigger plate like a typical Fraser. This is what a real Fraser boxlock looks like.

https://jamesdjulia.com/item/lot-1270-ex...nal-case-33448/

This one is a rifle but it does show the internal workings very well.

I've owned six Fraser's and the one shown above is the only one I've seen with a straight edge action. Fraser's that I'm familiar with have a very distinctive curve where the action meets the stock, easily identifiable from across the room. I'm pretty sure they would make anything somebody was willing to pay for...within reason.
Jon S.

Proof positive that you shouldn't reply without checking. I just checked the Fraser book and sure enough, there are a couple of guns illustrated with straight back actions. Mea culpa!
Jon S

Daniel Fraser died in 1901. According to Julia's listing, that Fraser boxlock was built in 1893.

What does this mean?

"...the pivot is not located on the trigger plate like a typical Fraser."

What's the pivot? Asking for edification, not to be a PITA.

Thanks

OWD

Look at the link I posted, there is a clear photo of how Fraser typically set up his sears. The pivot point is just below the fences of the gun you showed. The rifle in the link shows how they were normally done on the trigger plate and it has the more common curved back action that Jon S mentioned. I was obviously mistaken as to time frame. Surprised really. It looks like the later guns.

Fraser's own Patent Boxlock is a totally different cat than the usually encountered A&D. Not to say that Fraser's didn't use them.

The giveaway is the screw head on the side at the bottom rear of the action.
This is actually a plug to allow access to the pivot screw for the triggers.
One can't get the trigger plate on to the action with the triggers already mounted.

The ones I've been into rank as the most thoroughly well built actions I have ever seen.

So is this the plug Mike's referring to?



OWD