doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stephen Grant ejectors

I understand that some vintage Grant SLEs have rather delicate ejector systems that are liable to get out of order more easily than other systems.
Does anyone know how to identify these 'delicate' Grant ejectors?

If you have a gun with ejectors you question, post good pictures for answers.

Thank you.

Here's a link to the gun in question:

https://ellwoodepps.com/grant-stephen-sons-sidelock-ejector.html

Early 6K guns had coil spring ejectors that are a bear to keep in tune. Late 6k and everything afterwards are the new stly ejectors, Southgate

Mbatten;

I have considerable experience in rebuilding Stephen Grant designed ejectors, kickers, links, bridles, sidelock tumblers and so forth; and the gun pictured in the link posted by you does not have the Stephen Grant ejector system. The reason for my determination is that one cannot see the set of ejector trippers that are adjacent to the cocking arms on the Stephen Grant ejector system.

The Stephen Grant ejector system is not complicated, but it has too many wear points in the system of links, pivots and studs that comprise the system, therefore there is greater opportunity for failure of the system versus the Southgate ejector system design.

However, the greatest disadvantage to the Stephen Grant ejector system, to my mind is the increase in weight in the forearm over the same forearm if it is fitted with the Southgate ejector springs and kickers.

It is my opinion that John Robertson, owner of Boss & Co., designed his coil spring ejector system after considering how the Stephen Grant ejector system worked. John Robertson had much opportunity to observe and fine tune the Stephen Grant ejector system, as Robertson built(one of which I own) a number of Stephen Grant guns while he was a gunmaker to the trade in London before he purchased Boss & Co. John Robertson solved the overweight issue as well as the reliability of coil spring ejector systems.

If you have further need of information you can PM me and I will endeavor to answer your questions.

Further viewing by me of the subject Stephen Grant SLE photos via magnification, does not support my original opinion that the gun does not have Stephen Grant patent ejector system and likely Southgate instead. Magnification of the fore-end iron does not show the typical Southgate ejector pivot pin is installed in this gun. Therefore the gun may be equipped with the second generation Stephen Grant ejector system, without the very thin kicker trippers.

Mbatten is trying to obtain a photo of the inside of the fore end so that positive identification can be determined.

I previously owned a Grant SLE with the delicate ejector kickers ( both of which broke over a ten year period) and it was numbered #6733. Toby Barclay sold gun # 6282 which had the same delicate ejectors. So I strongly suspect this gun # 6529 has the same ejectors as it is right in the middle of this series.

That said once the thin kickers were remade with modern metal they worked well. They are elegant guns!

See Toby�s discussion here:
http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Grant%20SLE%206282/Grant%20SLE%206282%20Details.htm

Grant are elegant guns for sure. The side lever guns seem to go well over Holts estimate when ever one gone up for sale so other recognize and covet them as much as I do. They just have deeper pockets.