Side by Side Club

[Scrimshanker]

 

30 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Bought this today, at auction unviewed, so I hope I've not made a fail! Spanish and nicely engraved. Not an Arrietta I don't think, maybe it's a Parkremy, but I won't know until I collect who the make actually was. I'll be picking it up next week.

 

 

What a bargain it was! I nearly had a bid on that, please update us when you get your hands on it.

[enfieldspares]

2 hours ago, Scrimshanker said:

 

What a bargain it was! I nearly had a bid on that, please update us when you get your hands on it.

I winced in pain at the price the AYA 28 bore made of £380 or so against an auctioneer estimate if £30 to £80! I dropped out at £180 in fact as that was also an online bid I don't think I even got on the starting blocks!

Edited February 9, 2023 by enfieldspares

[Scrimshanker]

Yes there were a few that went well above the estimates but then some were bang on. I don't have a semi so I had a little punt on the 3.5" Escort and started out in the lead with the autobidding but didn't want to pay too much for an itch that needs to be scratched and lost out 😆

I think if I had won that I would have ended up bidding on a few others to make the trip there worthwhile.

It was the first time I have watched a gun auction live and at first I accidently clicked bid on an air rifle at £280 that I was not the slightest interested in! My heart sank but luckily one person outbid me and that is a lesson learnt!   

[enfieldspares]

On 10/02/2023 at 09:48, Scrimshanker said:

Yes there were a few that went well above the estimates but then some were bang on. I don't have a semi so I had a little punt on the 3.5" Escort and started out in the lead with the autobidding but didn't want to pay too much for an itch that needs to be scratched and lost out 😆

I think if I had won that I would have ended up bidding on a few others to make the trip there worthwhile.

It was the first time I have watched a gun auction live and at first I accidently clicked bid on an air rifle at £280 that I was not the slightest interested in! My heart sank but luckily one person outbid me and that is a lesson learnt!   

Yes. Once I'd got the Spaniard I watched to the end on the gun cabinets. They went expensive so the trip is just for that one gun!

[enfieldspares]

On 09/02/2023 at 19:08, Scrimshanker said:

 

What a bargain it was! I nearly had a bid on that, please update us when you get your hands on it.

I collected the Spaniard this early afternoon. It sort of looks like an engraved version of an AYA Yeoman Ejector in that it has that same raised ribs as does the Yeoman Ejector. The engraving is actually reasonably good and to my eye I like it.

IMHO a gun should either be plain and unadorned like the AYA Yeoman or fully covered in engraving that is at least "competent" like the AYA No4A Deluxe. It's why the standard AYA No4 to me never appealed as it was a sort of gone off at half cock engraving scheme.

Neither fish, nor fowl nor good red herring but something that looked as if it was half done when It was better left plain like the Yeoman Ejector or like the AYA No4A fully done.

The ejectors are timed correctly and exactly to both trip together if both barrels are fired and are of equal, good power. The snap caps ejected as if tied together with a two inch piece of string. The gun holds open on its gape and does not, as some I handled do, try to go back on itself.

So far so good. Choking is original is tight and even tighter. Hmmph! Half and Full. Not my liking! But if I keep it as I think I will for my son I'll have it opened out.

Edited February 15, 2023 by enfieldspares

[enfieldspares]

It seems that PERFECTION could be achieved not just as a single and unique experience! Here's one that went through Holt's. Again though no maker is given.

https://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=S0619+++5528+&refno=138601&image=2

I have now looked on the action flats of my gun with a jeweller's loup. It is impressed GSM in an oval. So Gregorio San Martin so thanks to JOHN FROM UK for his July 2021 posting on P/W I now know the maker.

Edited February 15, 2023 by enfieldspares

[Scrimshanker]

3 hours ago, enfieldspares said:

IMHO a gun should either be plain and unadorned like the AYA Yeoman or fully covered in engraving that is at least "competent" like the AYA No4A Deluxe. It's why the standard AYA No4 to me never appealed as it was a sort of gone off at half cock engraving scheme  

I have not heard of GSM but I will have a look into it. Sounds like the trip there was well worth it and shows there are many bargains about!
This is my AYA Best Quality Boxlock that Wabbitbosher kindly sold to me, along with my 3” BSA (Spanish ZH) that he also sold to me which I have been using down the marsh this season. 

[enfieldspares]

26 minutes ago, Scrimshanker said:

This is my AYA Best Quality Boxlock that Wabbitbosher kindly sold to me, along with my 3” BSA (Spanish ZH) that he also sold to me which I have been using down the marsh this season. 
 

A guy on the shoot where I beat came along with a AYA No4 Deluxe on ode of the days like yours. A very handsome gun it was too. Just as is yours. 

[JohnfromUK]

3 hours ago, enfieldspares said:

Gregorio San Martin so thanks to JOHN FROM UK for his July 2021 posting on P/W I now know the maker.

You are welcome; it must have been something I looked up somewhere (Terry Weilland's Spanish Best?) because if you asked me yestewrday who GSM were - I wouldn't have remembered!

[piemanpete]

I am selling my traditional side by side 12 bore boxlock ejector as I don't do much shooting these days.

It's a nice old English gun, maker unknown, serial number 6 or 9, I bought it in about 1986 from Dave Blackman of Overton, Hampshire. It's got 30" barrels that were Damascus at one time, although they have been sleeved afaik, the breeches are stamped to that effect.

The walnut stock has a small silver insert for the engraving of initials, but I never did. There is some simple engraving on the sideplates of the action.

Barrels are 1/4 choke  and true cylinder  as far as I can recall. A good gunsmith will be able to tell you straightaway. Barrels are nice and clean internally with no obvious pitting or rust; I have always done my best to keep my guns clean and well lubricated, with Young's 303 oil, smells great!

I know side-by-sides are not as popular these days, but you will have some good sport with this gun and it won't let you down.

Some pics to give you the idea.

Collection only with your shotgun certificate from my home in north Norfolk NR28.

£50 or thereabouts and it's yours; I paid £350 for it in 1986.

 

[Bear68]

The 2008 recession meant I had to sell my AYA No.4/53 in 20 bore. It was a decision I'd always regretted, but I turned 55 earlier this week and have just bought another one as a present to myself (this one won't be going anywhere):

Edited February 24, 2023 by Bear68

[button]

25 minutes ago, Bear68 said:

The 2008 recession meant I had to sell my AYA No.4/53 in 20 bore. It was a decision I'd always regretted, but I turned 55 earlier this week and have just bought another one as a present to myself (this one won't be going anywhere):

Lovely, was that the one at Greenfields?

[Bear68]

Yes, it was. They reduced the price recently, and temptation got the better of me. 

[button]

2 minutes ago, Bear68 said:

Yes, it was. They reduced the price recently, and temptation got the better of me. 

It looked very nice

I just got the same

[Bear68]

They're great little guns; have fun using it.

[impala59]

Just bought a low cost SxS at auction. Described as "The English Game Gun" it was just over £20 all in. The lock up is excellent and test firing yesterday proved a pleasant surprise, albeit on one barrel only! I sort of expected to do a little work and after stripping it down found a broken firing pin/striker (never quite sure which is correct) As it has removeable discs, after fashioning a rudimentary tool I removed both discs and pins. My question, before I fabricate replacements, is, are these generally available and could one of you advise who may be able to supply them. Also the disc cavities had some small traces of light wire, I am guessing small return springs would normally occupy the disc cup. I have plenty of light spring stock so fitting would be easy, or, should the pins be free floating in the disc?

Any help would be gratefully received

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Good to see you active again!  

[impala59]

Yes, still alive and kicking! Been through the mill a bit but out the other side now! 

[JohnfromUK]

There are usually little springs - main reason as far as I can see is to keep the firing pins out of harms (mainly in the form of the ejector/extractor) was when opening/closing the gun.

[impala59]

Yes I agree, although this is a non ejector, it would not be good to have the pins protruding from the bolt face during the unload/load sequence.

On this particular gun, I think the springs went west donkeys years ago!

[Andy H]

1 hour ago, impala59 said:

Just bought a low cost SxS at auction. Described as "The English Game Gun" it was just over £20 all in. The lock up is excellent and test firing yesterday proved a pleasant surprise, albeit on one barrel only! I sort of expected to do a little work and after stripping it down found a broken firing pin/striker (never quite sure which is correct) As it has removeable discs, after fashioning a rudimentary tool I removed both discs and pins. My question, before I fabricate replacements, is, are these generally available and could one of you advise who may be able to supply them. Also the disc cavities had some small traces of light wire, I am guessing small return springs would normally occupy the disc cup. I have plenty of light spring stock so fitting would be easy, or, should the pins be free floating in the disc?

Any help would be gratefully received

I Have had the same , Made a new pin out of silver steel and heat treated it and fitted  new springs ( out of a pen), What destroys the spring in this design is dry firing without snap caps.

Edited April 23, 2023 by Andy H
more info

[impala59]

A man after my own heart!

[London Best]

As Andy H says, use silver steel. 
Heat to cherry red and quench to harden. 
Polish bright and heat until the colours rum blue, quench in oil. 
Done this way they will not break. I’ve made lots like this.

edit: do not leave a sharp corner between the pin and shoulder, but form a small radius.

Sorry if I’m teaching you to suck eggs.

Edited April 23, 2023 by London Best

[impala59]

On 23/04/2023 at 16:33, London Best said:

As Andy H says, use silver steel. 
Heat to cherry red and quench to harden. 
Polish bright and heat until the colours rum blue, quench in oil. 
Done this way they will not break. I’ve made lots like this.

edit: do not leave a sharp corner between the pin and shoulder, but form a small radius.

Sorry if I’m teaching you to suck eggs.

All information is good, the heat and quench sequence is particularly useful, I assume the first quench is water? Also the radius tip is valuable from a strength point of view so thank you, once again the PW massive has come to the rescue!

[Weihrauch17]

11 minutes ago, impala59 said:

All information is good, the heat and quench sequence is particularly useful, I assume the first quench is water? Also the radius tip is valuable from a strength point of view so thank you, once again the PW massive has come to the rescue!

Quench in oil.