enfieldspares Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 (edited) This is a 1950s or 1960s Breda hammer gun. I've never liked low end English hammer guns as I prefer any side by side to have the forend attached with an Anson rod and the hammers on a hammer gun when cocked fully back to 1) not be visible to the line of sight when the gun is mounted to the shoulder to fire it, and 2) allow the top lever to come fully open to open the gun if the hammers are still fully cocked. Also to have a straight hand stock. You only seem to get these two features on higher end English hammer guns such as some Webley guns and an Army & Navy made by Webley that was similar. This Breda has features both 1) and 2). I have had the stock lengthened to my usual 15 5/8" to centre, the pistol grip reshaped to straight hand and I've then stained and lacquered the stock with spray varnish. As I think a spray lacquer is what the thing had when made. These were not expensive guns. I also had the typical Italian choke of "too tight" in the left barrel taken out to match the half choke in the right barrel. The gun is as made 2 3/4" chambers too. You can't take your money with you and it's a gun for those odd "bring something different when you come" back season days or Boxing Day or New Year's Day walk arounds. Edited January 8 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 looks very pretty.....more pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 8 Author Report Share Posted January 8 (edited) I shall do some, yes, with pleasure. This is the best I can get using my mobile 'phone. The gun does look better in the flesh. It has back action locks so I am hoping that as far as these things go it's about the best design for strength along with the sideclips that you can see and the top extension that it also has. I am guessing in the Italian market they were made for they were intended for 36 gram loads. So with steel approaching on the horizon I hope I am as much "future proof" as you can be in a hammer gun. Edited January 8 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 21 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: This is a 1950s or 1960s Breda hammer gun. I've never liked low end English hammer guns as I prefer any side by side to have the forend attached with an Anson rod and the hammers on a hammer gun when cocked fully back to 1) not be visible to the line of sight when the gun is mounted to the shoulder to fire it, and 2) allow the top lever to come fully open to open the gun if the hammers are still fully cocked. Also to have a straight hand stock. You only seem to get these two features on higher end English hammer guns such as some Webley guns and an Army & Navy made by Webley that was similar. This Breda has features both 1) and 2). I have had the stock lengthened to my usual 15 5/8" to centre, the pistol grip reshaped to straight hand and I've then stained and lacquered the stock with spray varnish. As I think a spray lacquer is what the thing had when made. These were not expensive guns. I also had the typical Italian choke of "too tight" in the left barrel taken out to match the half choke in the right barrel. The gun is as made 2 3/4" chambers too. You can't take your money with you and it's a gun for those odd "bring something different when you come" back season days or Boxing Day or New Year's Day walk arounds. Very nice I do like the top lever to be able to clear the hammers when cocked Also a side lever or under lever is good for that And it is nice to have something a bit special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 8 Author Report Share Posted January 8 (edited) 4 minutes ago, kevin55 said: I do like the top lever to be able to clear the hammers when cocked The proper way to use it if you don't take a shot and need to unload it. Open the gun. Then when the gun is open and broken lower the hammers. As I was shown now thirty plus years ago by someone who had been shown that way by an old man who had been taught by... Well you get the idea. Learned at third remove from someone who actually used the things back from when in the days when they were all that was used. None of the nonsense on the usually good Paul Harrell of pulling the trigger with the thumb keeping the hammer from falling. Edited January 8 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 5 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: I shall do some, yes, with pleasure. This is the best I can get using my mobile 'phone. The gun does look better in the flesh. It has back action locks so I am hoping that as far as these things go it's about the best design for strength along with the sideclips that you can see and the top extension that it also has. I am guessing in the Italian market they were made for they were intended for 36 gram loads. So with steel approaching on the horizon I hope I am as much "future proof" as you can be in a hammer gun. interesting..........very very similar design to Thomas Wilde..hammers/lock/top lever...........i believe there was at one time a firm conection between Purdey and Wilde...wilde used to do work for them Joe Wheater told me that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted Friday at 09:36 Report Share Posted Friday at 09:36 I regret getting rid of a San Marco hammergun which looked very similar to this one, nearly 30 years ago. One of the locks needed some work and I could not afford to have it done at the time. It was great fun to shoot, I shot my first driven pheasants with it, and it accompanied me on a lot of pigeon shooting forays as a youngster. This gun too had sideclips and a top extension, and a flat rib. I bought another example a while ago but it was not the same at all. Wishing you much joy of your "new" gun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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