doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Under-Snap-Action Purdey Thumbhole Lever ..

I am looking for some feedback on the functionality of an under snap action thumbhole lever. I have my eye on a Boss hammergun with this setup and not familiar with it at all. Is it reliable or problem prone or something else? How does it measure up to a Jones underlever or sidelever? There has to be a reason that this design was discontinued years ago or is it simply evolution. I hate to invest any money into a nice gun if I'll be disappointed with the breech opening mechanism...thanks again for your comments.

I have this type of opening system on two different guns. One a Boss hammer gun like you mention and the second on a Scott hammer gun. Both guns were made in 1870's and have been well used. I have shot them only very limited amount as 135+ year old guns do not instill much confidence in their strenght and I have many others to play with. The thumb break as I call it works well and no problems. But if it fails I am sure some 137 year old design can be fixed by a good smith.

There was a Boss hammer gun with this system a while back that had been converted into a crossover shooter. Wicked looking gun that I should have bought just for laughs. It was in very nice shape and had seen little use after conversion. I suspect that a cross over gun like that gets very little use if the owner does not like it. Not like you can lend it to your brother or son. Need for crossover tends to be a one person only handicap.

As to the merits of the design it is a dead end of gun design evolution. Like the side lever it had a short life and went the way of many "odd improvements". Unless you intend to keep the gun long term or can get it for a decent price you need to consider how much you want the gun. Might be a little hard to sell down the road. Then again if you find a odd fellow like me maybe not.

I have used a Purdey second model thumbhole as my grouse gun for a number of years. I happen to like the design and functionality of the system. In my opinion, a thumb hole back action hammergun is about as elegant a combination as you will find in a breechloader. I look apon the Purdey thumbhole action as a plus weather made by Purdey or others under license.

All the best, Mal

http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx...0&GunID=745


Was it this one? I thought it was neat, and low priced for what it was, but, viagraJoe thought it would be ostentatious next to the Mossberg 500s-yes, plural.

The Darnes and the Tobins are big tent 'kinda guns, and 'woulda made room, I'm sure.

Not a hammergun guy myself, and the safe is full at the moment. But, neat. Let us know how it works.
Best,
Ted

Wish I could say the same!
The thumb-hole Purdeys are not common in Australia, most of the Purdeys I have seen in recent years were Pigeon-guns, although sidelock game-guns were abundant before our currency crash a decade or so back.

It wouldn't happen to be an ejector, by slim chance? I would have to say that a Purdey or Boss hammer ejector would be my idea of the Holy Grail!

I have shot one oldish (1863)Purdey thumb-hole and it is undoubtedly slower than top or side-levers, but, to me, faster than a Jones. You have to move one hand down to open the gun. Personally, I grasp the barrels with my left and use my right thumb to push the lever. Still, if you don't need a quick third shot, it's both fun and makes for a racy look. I like it.

It will be a Daw lever cocking gun, as I recall. The thumb lever, side lever, and snap-underlever were all variations of this theme. All work fine, but were supplanted by the top lever. Those used to barrel cocking find the opening/closing ease of a lever cocking gun strange. I like it.

Rocket, I am slightly confused. (Normal for me!) All the thumb lever guns I know are hammerguns and don't cock themselves. The thumb lever just unlocks the gun. I would love to shoot a self-cocking gun with a thumb lever, however. Do you know where it is one is to be found? Pref on the cheap!

lt - I think you may be right and me in error. The Purdey and Woodward snap underlever hammerless guns do use the Daw cocking lever, but, come to think of it, I don't have a hammerless sample of the thumb lever pattern (I remember seeing one, but I don't have information at the moment so I may be wronmg). I suppose it may have been used only for bolting on hammer guns.

Good catch!!

The Purdey first patent thumbhole was the original operationg lever for the Purdey bolt, the second pattern was abit neater but then it got overtaken by the invention of the Scott Spindle, which enabled the Purdey bolt to be operated by a top-lever.

The thumb-hole lever guns are elegant but the market currently dictates that they fetch less money than top-lever or side-lever guns.

I would certainly use one - But I have been using a Jones underlever hammer gun all season on driven pheasants and partridges - I still put a good share of birds in the bag and don't think I lose much shooting because of the slower loading cycle.