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are hammer guns fast becoming the new black?


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Bruno22rf, thats very interesting.Presumably both your guns are (relatively) recent?

My 3 hammer guns are;

  • William Powell best quality, made 1871, bar action rebounding locks, no intercepting safety
  • Charles Maleham (made by W&C Scott), back action rebounding locks, no intercepting safety, date about 1880
  • James Adsett, bar action non rebounding locks, no intercepting safety, date believed 1869

The sidelock without intercepting safety is an AyA Senior, made circa 1983, This has Purdey/Beesley type locks, with fully bolted sears (the safety catch bolts the sears through levers on the lock plate, not the triggers), but perhaps surprisingly as it was AyA's top model and AyA sidelocks normally have intercepting safety, this model has no intercepting safety, having the safety catch act on the sears instead. I have no idea why this was done, as the complexity (and hence cost) would be similar.

 

I think you misunderstand what we mean , Rebounding locks have a Second sear in the hammer preventing the hammer being knocked onto the cartridge when the gun is closed and the hammers are uncocked , i think this is what BRNO refers to as an Intercepting sear

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I think you misunderstand what we mean , Rebounding locks have a Second sear in the hammer preventing the hammer being knocked onto the cartridge when the gun is closed and the hammers are uncocked , i think this is what BRNO refers to as an Intercepting sear

 

OK - I understand the second sear in rebounding locks. Two of my guns have rebounding locks, the other doesn't (i.e. it has to be raised to half cock by manually raising the hammers).

 

I understand intercepting safeties as meaning 'second intercepting SEARS', not a second bent in the sear. That is second separate sears, raised separately by the trigger.

 

I agree that there may be a misunderstanding, for which I apologise.

 

I have never personally seen secondary (intercepting) safety sears on a hammer gun, but they may well exist on later hammer guns, particularly the 'modern' self cocking types such as the fancy AyA the current Purdey and the Famars Castore. I have never handled any of these, or seen pictures of the locks of any of these guns. Most sidelock guns (but not all) do have the secondary intercepting safety sears (and a few boxlocks do I believe). I had thought that this was what was implied by the mention of hammer guns being sidelocks (which of course they are).

 

Once again apologies for any misunderstandings

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Hammer guns have always had their fans & followers & I have been one since I was a kid ! some one once said many years ago "" Hammerless guns look like " spaniels with out ears ! "" I could not agree more ! . I have a Scudamoore flintlock double gun which is an elegant old lady 185 years old & only gets used on very special occasions ! take one look at her & you can see where the later forms of hammer guns got their looks from .

 

Some have been made in the last few years or so but with out the damascus barrels they just don't seem the same & Purdey made some new Hammer ejectors not long ago .

Pole Star

Edited by Pole Star
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However,Johnfronuk, to be fair you ...... must pay a forfeit-pics of your guns please :friends:

 

Powell Hammer gun

PowellHammer1_zpse3f47a80.jpg

 

PowellHammer2_zps70fac159.jpg

 

This gun dates from 1871 and has Powells patent push up top lever snap action, patent striker extractors and loaded indicators. It was nitro proofed by Powells circa 25 years ago (when I bought it from them) and the gun dimensions (bores excepted) conform to those in the maker's records for when it was made. It has had little use and is in excellent condition, but unfortunately, the original 'best oak and leather case' supplied with it are missing. The locks are rebounding.

 

Charles Maleham

DSCN0914_zpsf1e528b9.jpg

 

Again rebounding locks, but basic backlocks with Jones underlever. Sleeved, and actually made by W&C Scott circa 1880

 

James Adsett

DSCN0915_zps74579f81.jpg

 

This time, non rebounding locks. Again sleeved, snap action top lever. A pretty gun, nicely engraved. Made about 1869

Edited by JohnfromUK
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A fantastic collection and that Powell is magnificent.

 

Blackpowder

 

Couldn't agree more. Thanks to John for taking the trouble to post these lovely photos. Have to admit that the Powell at least is probably superior to my Tanton. Is it a bar-in-wood model? Can't see exactly. (Posted this just a minute after Wabbitbosher turned out to have answered my question!)

Edited by Cumbrian
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I picked up my first ever hammer gun yesterday. In a Belgian Folding Double Barrelled .410. It is absolutely fantastic. I have wanted one for a while but this came around for the right price and condition. It was made in the 1930's, It has been used and I will continue to use it. Ideal for a quick walk about or when im stalking the woods for the squirrels! t

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I picked up my first ever hammer gun yesterday. In a Belgian Folding Double Barrelled .410. It is absolutely fantastic. I have wanted one for a while but this came around for the right price and condition. It was made in the 1930's, It has been used and I will continue to use it. Ideal for a quick walk about or when im stalking the woods for the squirrels! t

 

That's as close as I ve got I enjoy shooting the old girl but a 12 or 20 would nice.

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