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Joined: Mar 2010
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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good afternoon guys ...
I've meant to share a few photos of my double rifle for a while but never got the time to sort through the safe, photograph it, upload the photos ... well you get the idea.
I bought this rifle approx 10-12 years ago after I caught the "English bug". I started with a single shot Farquharson, then I bought a Field's Patent match rifle and then this double rifle became available. Although it was priced right, I sold a few items to jump on this one.
By the shape of the receiver and locks, it looks to me to be a very early cartridge double rifle. I love the shape of the triggerguard with the jones underlever. The barrels are tight on face. I've only fired 40-60 cartridges through it in the time I've owned it. The left barrel is engraved, "HAMILTON & CO CALCUTTA & SIML'A" and the right barrel is engraved, "MANUFACTURED EXPRESSLY BY T WOODWARD".
It was refinished when I bought it and there is no loss of wood or engraving. Everything is crisp!
I have the British Gunmakers series and there is a small entry for T Woodward, but I've never seen another gun by him.



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Although not a rifle I do have a 12gau. SxS shotgun made by T. W.
If you removed that trigger-guard & made it straight and the opening lever just a straight push, like on most single shot rifles, they would look the same.

Mine is covered with fine scroll engraving and in my eyes is just plain "elegant". Don't quote me but I belief T.W. went to H&H??? to be their shop "foreman" so his signature on fine guns is somewhat scarce as compared to John W.

Very nice gun you have there Joe. --- John

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There were many people named Woodward in the Birmingham gun trade, some originally from the town of Bath in Somerset but most appear untraceable. Thomas Woodward was not, as has been reported, the son of Benjamin Woodward of Birmingham and, although there may have been a relationship, none has been found.

Thomas Woodward (Thomas (I) was the son of John, a plater, and Sarah Woodward, a haberdasher. He was born in 1831 and recorded in the 1841 census, aged 10 years, living with his family in William Street.

The 1851 census records him living at 35 Islington with his parents and other family members, he was described as a gun maker.

The 1861 census does not appear to record Thomas (I), who may have been elsewhere on the night of the census, but his wife, Elizabeth (b.1832 in Birmingham) was recorded living in Barker Street with their children, Thomas (Thomas (II) b.1855)), John (b.1857), Kate (b.1859) and Frank (b.1860). Also recorded was Elizabeth's brother, James Woodward.

In 1866 Thomas (I) was recorded as a gun maker at 10 Steelhouse Lane (these premises were also occupied by J W Laird), but he may have traded from about 1864.

On 21 December 1864 a T Woodward registered patent No. 3165 for a hinged rising breech block with a thumb operated extractor. In 1866 Thomas (I) and G Fallows registered patent No. 1489 for a drop-down barrel breech-loader with extractors.

In the 1871 census Thomas (I) and Elizabeth were recorded living at 10 Steelhouse Lane with four other children, Ellen (b.1863), Minnie (b.1866), James W (b.1868) and Agnes W (b.1870).

Thomas (I) was obviously highly thought of in Birmingham's gun making circles because in 1873 he became a partner with others in Abingdon Works (Ltd).

On 17 February 1876 Thomas (I) registered patent No. 651 for an under-lever cocking shotgun which he named "The Acme", a top safety and a rebounding lock. The gun seems to have been the best quality of all his guns at the time and an improved Model No. 2 was advertised as "The Only Hammerless Gun". It was certainly one of the first hammerless guns but it was not the only one. On 30 August 1878 Thomas Woodward and David Bentley registered patent No. 3447 for an improvement to Thomas' patent No. 651 of 1876.

On 21 June 1880 T Woodward registered patent No. 2505 for an action which could be cocked on opening, closing or by means of a lever.

The 1881 census records Thomas (I) and Elizabeth living at 19 Soho Road, Handsworth, with all their children including another daughter, Edith W (b.1874). The 1881 census also records Thomas (II) who, in 1876, had married Fanny Amelia (nee Cartwright b.1856 in Birmingham, daughter of a jeweller). They were living at 22 Anglesey Street, Aston Manor with their children, Fanny (b.1877), Ada (b.1878) and Thomas(b.1881).

On 9 July 1881 T Woodward and T Woodward patented a top lever cocking hammer-less action with safety sears (No. 3027), and on 18 May 1882 T Woodward registered patent No. 2344 which referred to 651 of 1876 and was for an opening cocking action with coil springs one version of which was named the "Acme". The patentee was probably the father rather than the son. On 7 February 1883 T Woodward registered patent No. 687 for a closing cocking action with a rib extension bolting mechanism. On 7 August b1883 T Woodward registered patent No. 3845 an action which cocked the mainspring on closing and was locked by the top lever and rib extension. This patent referred to 651 of 1876.

On 2 April 1887 another patent (No. 4920) by a Thomas Woodward was for an improved ejector mechanism, this may have been Thomas (II).

In 1887 Thomas (I) moved to 7 Bath Street.

On 26 March 1889 another patent (No. 5159) was for ejectors. This patent may have been registered by Thomas (II).

Thomas (I) appears to have traded up to 1888 to 1890 when he appears to have died. The firm may have been in financial difficulties because it closed and Thomas (II) moved to live at 196 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, where he was recorded in the 1891 census as a gunsmith. He may well have been working for Charles Rosson who also lived in Uttoxeter Road and patented an ejector mechanism in 1889.

In 1892 Thomas (II) joined Holland & Holland as manager of their new factory in London (see Harris Holland for Thomas (II)'s later patents).

Thomas and Fanny were recorded in the 1901 census living at 69 Ashburnham Road, Willesden, London. Thomas (II) described himself as a gun maker's manager.

Hamilton & Co
Old Courthouse Street, Dalhousie Square
Calcutta

Also recorded at
Simla and Birmingham.

Approximately 1860?-1947?

A .450 (3 1/4 inch) BP Express rifle profusely inlaid in gold and dated to 1899 has been seen. The locks were signed J Woodward.

Hamiltons were a large firm of jewellers but, obviously, did not confine themselves entirely to traditional jewellery. In the 1920s and 1930s the manager in Calcutta was a Mr Frank Read who was a close friend of F B Prike of R B Rodda & Co whose offices were in the next street.

From the Internet Gun Club

Pete

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Sidelock
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Nice rifle Joe. I have owned several "spiral spring Woodward" shotguns. They are neat guns and and an interesting maker you do not see very often. Holt's has a really beat Spiral spring shotgun in the upcoming auction if you want to see more from this maker.
Steve


http://www.bertramandco.com/
Booking African hunts, firearms import services

Here for the meltdowns
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Sidelock
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Really nice gun Joe. Why am I not lucky enough to find something that nice

Jerry

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That beast needs to be brought out to the next shoot at Birchwood!!!! That looks very nice!!!

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Sidelock
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Here are a few pics of a T Woodward SxS Shotgun from a Forum member. I hope he adds some details to this fine piece. It's good to know that a few examples by this maker have survived ...




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Sidelock
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How valuable are these shotguns? I have an opportunity to buy a rough specimen.

Thanks.

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Sidelock
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That SxS shotgun above happens to be mine, thanks Joe for posting the pics. I can't say what they go for as I got mine extremely cheap.
A friend got it in a package deal and sold it to me. The stock was broke into four pieces and I slowly put it back together for a pattern if nothing else. The metal was quite nice and the lock- up is solid albeit it only has one "bite". Barrel bores are clean & bright - no doubt I will keep it, if not for the name then the "looks" and mechanics.
The nitro proof barrels for this vintage a gun have me puzzled somewhat, I would have expected damascus?, could be replacements but short of etching to get a pattern, I'm not sure.
Around here any "all there" wall hanger goes from about $100 to 175 - just depends.
Ryan - what is rough??? a description / post a few pics. if you can.
Can anyone put an approximate date on the gun certainly before 1892? but a closer date would be nice to know.
--- John

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Sidelock
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I dont have pictures right now. Once upon a time it was a very nice gun. The engraving and stock inletting is nice.

Mechanically functional. Some heavy pitting just ahead of the chambers. The checkering is worn. The stock has an ebony butt extension for a long LOP.

It looks a lot like yours but brown damascus tubes. Lots of engraving. I think the barrels have been refinished (maybe more than once).

The asking price is $400. I dont know


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