Velocette

HOLTS Auctioneers Lots of work but a unique opportunity.

I always wanted to try the Record cartridges in my several Baikals and recently got hold of a couple of boxes of 32g no.5 and fired a few at dusk at some crows ! Its all true about the gouts of flame and smouldering confetti. I'll save the rest for special occasions.

They came over the Scillies a few days ago, very low.

This is one of my favourites. https://www.adforum.com/production/6664735/creative-work/34511910/the-messenger/arla-skyr

This is another gun I got from the recent Holts sale and collected from Belvoir Castle, £26.00 all in seemed a good deal. The only detail available before sale was that it had been sleeved, steel to damascus in the seventies and was made in aprox 1902. It had clearly had a life and someone thought it worthwhile to have it sleeved, The woodwork was quite rough and scratched. plus the comb was about 3/8" too high for me so I lowered it and started refinishing the stock which, with the nice piece of wood extension, is going to look good when when its finished. When I stripped the action it became clear that some care had been taken putting it together and everything was nicely finished inside. The hinge pin/hook is integral to the action and is a hefty 7/16" in diameter and I noticed this when examining the hook, the neatest dovetail repair, almost invisible but very nicely done. At the same time I cleaned the barrel flat a little to show the Damascus pattern. I noticed this detail on the extractor cam, a tapered locater on each side to keep everything solid to the action. The barrel is bored at 5 and 18 thou and when I tested it before stripping down shot well for me. All in all, an old gun with some life left in it and a caring history behind it.

Have a good read through this, its clear and he really understands the Stealth innards. Introduction (stealthresource.org)

I wonder if that valve is some sort of anti-tamper arrangement where the top hat is fixed/bonded to the valve stem to prevent interference.

Now I have seen that picture there seems to be a circlip retaining something on or near the valve stem. Not seen one like that before. It could be a "shed built" valve which are common with such a simple design. I'd have a look on the web for schematic drawings of the standard valve.

Beat me to it !! The "top hat" is screwed onto the valve stem and by winding it in and out then locking in place with the grub screw is a means of adjusting the power. There are lots of improved valves out there with better stem sealing and air flow. A good way to get a steady power output is by fitting a heavier breech slide/hammer and softer spring to get a more controllable result. Often its friction on the breech slide which causes wildly different ft/lbs and the heavier hammer and dry lube can help to overcome this. A good tip is to replace the breech slide O-rings regularly as these seal the "top hat" to the barrel and again help with consistent power output.

West Yorkshire police have a good system. Ring 101 and get the details of the nearest station that has a property store. Contact them and explain what you want to do and when you'll be calling in. Upon arrival, leave the gun in your car, tell reception and someone will come out with you to bring it safely into the station. Its all logged in and you are given a reference number which you add to the normal notification of Disposal notice and sent to your FLO. No charge and very efficient.

Sorry for the delay, this is the breech side.

Quite right, its a Baker and fortunately seems to be in very good condition. As to sleeving, there is no indication of who did it. The top rib has the James name and address and the barrel flats look like this. The ejector retaining pin is one I knocked up quickly as the original was not very secure. It will be done properly soon !

Among the guns I collected from Holts valuation day at Belvoir was an Enos James 12g SxS boxlock from about 1902. Its been sleeved from damascus to steel barrels and someone has clearly cared for it for a good part of its life. I'll submit an overview of the entire gun shortly but for the moment its the forend and ejectors which had me puzzled. I'm not too keen on ejectors and am broadly unfamiliar with how they function so these looked quite odd. When I removed the ironwork the puzzle grew deeper. Everything looks in good condition and when I test fired it, quite successfully, at some crows last Thursday it all works as it should. I know what they are now but wondered if anyone else has come across them and has a name !

Now sold to Centrepin, thanks for the kind comments chaps !

The curse of Holts has struck again and space is urgently needed for the new guns. This is the 26" muzzle brake O/U type, model 102. Its is very good condition, thoroughly serviced and ready for bolting rabbits or busy hide days on pigeons. Its one of those guns that everybody should try at some time. It was part of a very versatile set of shotguns/drillings made by Brno at the time and has kept the secret of how to dismantle it to this day. Once learned its easy, but before then, very frustrating. £40.00 and its yours ! Collection only please.

This is some brisk stuff.

That's the way I do it, Belvoir castle on 26 April will make a day out this time, otherwise any excuse to have a few days in North Norfolk and collect personally.

Has anyone had good fortune at the Sealed Bid auction this week. I've just heard that I was successful with the W.Calder 12g boxlock. Its an intriguing gun, clearly much loved by a previous owner who took the trouble to have it re-sleeved and chambered at 2 3/4" making it very useable these days. There was a thread on here some years ago with details of the history of Calder in Aberdeen.

Now gone to a good home.

That looks spot on, very similar to the way I do it except I use smoked belly pork. Cook the lot one day and leave it until the next day before reheating and enjoying. Delightful !!

Its always the case, though I will be near Penzance on the way to the Scillies in early June. Actually, now that I've seen your location that's not really much better is it !!

This is a gun I got for parts to support the other two Brno's that I have begun using but it became clear that I'll never need it so I located a replacement top lever/bolt and spring and re-commissioned it. Two sets of barrels came with it and as they are interchangeable, fitted the skeet/ported barrels to the action and its as tight as a tick now. The other barrels are the standard 28" game type,BUT are very pitted and rough. They are choked at aprox 5 and 20 thou. and whilst I have used them with no problem it would be up to the new owner to decide what to do. Worst case is that you get a spare forend and extractor. I had a look inside the action and cleaned/ lubricated everything that needed it and it works fine. The action blueing has the patina of a gun that's had a life. For someone who wants to scratch this particular itch its an opportunity to try something from the backwaters of shotgun design. Collection only please.

It depends on the classification of the road. "A" roads are inspected monthly and reported defects repaired within 7 days. "B" and "C" class roads are inspected every 3 months and the repair time is the same. If you clout the defect a few,5? days after an inspection then you would have a strong case for a claim on the basis that they failed to spot it and rectify the damage. Two reports in 6 months is not an aspect of a claim. Take pictures at the time of the incident which show the location and the depth, as far as possible. Then either consult a no-win no-fee firm or contact the council yourself requesting the recent inspection records for the road section in question. As I said, if your claim is within a short time after an inspection then you may have a case. Providing the inspections are carried out at the correct times then your claim has little chance.

I've got one here that I took out of a 302 that measures 44cm (17 5/16" ) . I was replacing a lot of parts trying to cure a fault so it may still have some life in it until a new one is available.

Quite right, the prices are on the high side but we were passing and couldn't resist ! At the last but one sale I really should have carried on bidding for two or three lots of Sellior and Bellot ? 32g of No.7. They were in lots of about 350 and I bowed out at £100 when I knew that they could have been useful. Silly money these days but do need to stockpile a few more yet.