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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 345 Likes: 8
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 345 Likes: 8 |
DxRx,
FWIW to you, I've a 'BQ' Westley Richards Damascus gun I bought back in 1989 that has logged around 3K of low-pressure handloads each and every year since it was purchased. Like you, it's mostly used for sporting, 5-stand, and skeet.....and the only thing that has needed repaired to date was a broken ejector spring some years ago.
No off-face issues have developed so far with 7/8 oz. loads, 1150 fps, 5K-6K psi range....and that's using the longer 2-3/4" Winchester C-F case in a 2.5 inch chambers. With that said, it will probably crap out on me next week for having bragged upon it, but I kind of doubt it.
At 6 lb. 10 oz. it's a joy to shoot to where it's what I have most often reached for, and I suggest you do likewise. As some here have stated, it can be repaired if needed and we all have better access today to more skilled craftsmen here in the U.S./Canada than just a few decades ago. I'm just two years younger than you, doubt I'll be wearing mine out, and am more concerned with who to leave it to....
All Best,
Rob
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,272 Likes: 525
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,272 Likes: 525 |
I put way more rounds than that through a Webley & Scott 12ga (1924) over the past year. I did have to have the strikers replaced. Other than that . . . still working fine. Those strikers were replaced right after I bought that gun...circa 2005? I didn't notice it as being re-jointed when I owned it either...but someone did that along the way too right? When it was at the shop getting strikers & strip/clean, the forend was loosened up a bit too. It was so tight you couldn't pry it off. If there are any issues at all with any of the W&S actions...they do tend to shoot loose over time.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,381 Likes: 1 |
W J Jeffery BLE 16 gauge circa 1936-39. Tight on face and recently disassembled and ultrasonic cleaned and serviced by vintage double gunsmith. I reload and shoot 2.5 inch 3/4 oz low pressure loads (6400psi) at 1100fps at Skeet, SC, and 5 stand. Would 1500 to 2000 rounds/ yr be too much? I am 70 years old and don't think that I can wear this jewel out but like to hear from others and their thoughts and experiences. I just recently purchased this gun so don't know any history other than it performed well for me on a recent West Texas wild quail hunt. Key ward Percy Stanbery, hint. Well when one looks at Percy's Webley & Scott (you know, the one with them numerous ovals in the butt stock) I would think good quality English double fead correct ammo and given proper loving care will last very, very long time.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 594 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 594 Likes: 12 |
Percy's gun is still in regular use by its current guardian.
Tim
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 52 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 52 Likes: 3 |
Gentlemen thank you for all your positive remarks and experiences.. I plan to do as you all suggested, shoot the Jeffery often and enjoy every minute. Always clean and lub with proper products after each outing. If problem develops will send to competent gunsmith.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 195
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 195 |
The life expectancy of a gun does depend on many circumstances though the main reasons are far fewer in number. I would start with the gun its self, it should be well designed with no over complications. Using the best materials available at the time of its manufacturer, with the most important thing of all taken good care of by its owner. The only example I have that can genuinely prove my point is the oldest gun in my collection which I have used on a continuous basis is my Purdey hammer gun built in 1869. The guns design is as simple as an early breach opening gun could be, having external hammers though it does have a rebounding lock design. Each lock has just the minimum number of working parts with no extra add ones each built by Joseph Brazier. No top leaver and its associated spring also no complicated ejector mechanism, with just a central cartridge extractor mechanism which it does whether the cartridges have been fired or not. The breach opening mechanism is via a heavily built thumb leaver set in the trigger guard with a rather large and well-proportioned spring to keep the barrel locking bolt tightly in position. Bearing in mind that the gun with its Damascus barrels was built in the days of black powder then proofed for Nitro powder use and is still well within the British proof limits today. As for cartridge used given the guns age and its first owner, he was a member of the British hierarchy with lots of time on his hands. He did seem spend more time on the grouse moor and the pursuit of driven game than in either houses of parliament seeing that he was Britains first Minister of Agriculture. So, a conservative estimate I feel would be somewhere in the region of 400,000 cartridges in his lifetime, as for my own efforts in cartridge use over some fifty years around 100.000 though the load weight has reduced from 1 1/8 to 7/8 ounce as I have become older. And of course, there is the capacity for the gun to do the same numbers in the future if treated like a good horse look after your horse before you look after yourself!!! The gun was put back on face in the early 1970s after I rescued it from being scraped. Mechanically all the parts are original except one pin though all the other action pin slots are badly opened up. To the disappointment of some I wont replace the pins because they are original parts of the gun and do still work correctly I see them as part of the guns character. [/URL
[URL=http://s104.photobucket.com/user/damascus_02/media/purdey/004_1.jpg.html]
Last edited by damascus; 03/16/17 08:38 AM. Reason: 2nd photo did not load
The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,380 Likes: 105 |
I put way more rounds than that through a Webley & Scott 12ga (1924) over the past year. I did have to have the strikers replaced. Other than that . . . still working fine. Those strikers were replaced right after I bought that gun...circa 2005? I didn't notice it as being re-jointed when I owned it either...but someone did that along the way too right? When it was at the shop getting strikers & strip/clean, the forend was loosened up a bit too. It was so tight you couldn't pry it off. If there are any issues at all with any of the W&S actions...they do tend to shoot loose over time. Yes, the gun was rejointed (standard British job, fitting a new C-shaped piece to the lump, and very well done) at some point before I bought it. Holding up quite well. Top lever still slightly to the right of center.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
Beautiful Purdey!!! Let's see 1869 to 2017, I would venture a guess that they got this double gun business down to a science.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,083 Likes: 476
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,083 Likes: 476 |
Damascus, thanks for sharing with us your photos and historical account of a valuable artifact of a bygone era. Your half century stewardship is commendable. Gil
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,631 Likes: 75
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,631 Likes: 75 |
But wait, should it not be noted that cartridges made around the early 20th century was a lot different than todays cartridges?
Mike Proctor
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