jgguinness Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Have seen a lovely little gun by H.P.S Paten of Forth. It's a .22lr Does anyone know anything about the maker or gun. I quite fancy it. It's got to be early, octagonal barrel. Kind regards Jonathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB7 Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Do you have a link to any pictures of the gun. I can't find the name in any of my books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted April 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Here are a couple. Don't look at the log splitter crushed thumb ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonseed Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Have you a side-on pic of the lock? I've owned one or two rook rifles and shoot one now. I've never heard of that maker either. Do you know if it was made as a .22Lr, or converted to that calibre? Most .22 British rook rifles were converted from the now obsolete calibres like.230, .300 and others. My own was 'Parkerifled' with a .22 insert in Birmingham. To me it looks like a rolling block rifle, possibly made and stamped with the name Paten of Forth for retail in their shop. I'd hazard a guess its made in Belgium. Are you sure it's chambered for LR rather than .22 Short, or even for .22 Flobert ammunition? Anyway, whatever, if the price is right, go for it, it seems to be in decent condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted April 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Cheers for the replies folks. I'm not sure if it was originally .22 or not. I guess I would need to take a .22lr round and try it. During my research I had noticed that most were now obsolete calibres. Price wise £100-140? Jonathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonseed Posted April 4, 2014 Report Share Posted April 4, 2014 Cheers for the replies folks. I'm not sure if it was originally .22 or not. I guess I would need to take a .22lr round and try it. During my research I had noticed that most were now obsolete calibres. Price wise £100-140? Jonathan The price is a lot less than most British rook rifles, even those devalued in the collector market by conversion to rimfire and .410 shotguns. If it means blocking up a slot for a more useful .22 for shooting vermin, I wouldn't bother. But if you can easily get another .22 slot as a club shooter, then it might be a nice extra rifle to use when you're in the mood. I use my rook rifle on the range mostly, but it is nice to shoot the odd rabbit with a gun that's over a hundred years old and accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I agree that it's cheap enough. As you say, value depends on if it has been altered or not. I will have to have another look and check it out. The action is a manual pull back hammer, then a barrel blank plate? Swings open, pop the round in and away you go. It's a lovely small rifle, and it would be great to take bunnies with it, and a nice addition to the collection. Yes it would take up a vacant slot, but it shouldn't be hard to acquire a new slot for a modern rifle also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Nice little rolling block you got there, every bunny or what ever you get with it will put a big grin on your face and carrying it will be a joy! I would of thought it would say on it if it was converted to 22lr, stamped after proofing! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB7 Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 A lot of these had a makers or retailers name put on them but were produced by others. Alot of these were made in birmingham. I will see later if it looks like another maker in any of my books. Have a look under the forend and see if there are any markings/ initials, any pictures of proof marks could be helpful. At that price I would have it for the summer, absolute joy to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Belgian proof marks along the left side of the barrel.I have no listed "gunmaker" of that name , could have been either a shop ,iron monger or department store . Could be dated from the proof marks so you could look up local historic directories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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