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LOT 3453
Lovely Pair of Factory Engraved Stephen Grant & Sons
Sidelever Sidelock Double Barrel Shotguns with Case
-A) Stephen Grant & Sons Sidelever Shotgun - Serial no. 8066,
12 gauge, 29 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This pair was completed circa 1922 according to Nigel
Brown’s “British Gunmakers Volume One: England”. Each gun in
this pair was built with blued dovetail lump barrels featuring
a single bead sight on the smooth concave game rib which is
signed “STEPHEN GRANT & SONS. 7. BURY STREET St. JAMES’S,
LONDON, S.W.”, a gold inlaid “1” or “2”, and a flourish of scroll
around “PATENT/EJECTOR”, “SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH” and “FLUID
PRESSED STEEL” marked on the left and right tube respectively,
later (date obscured) London nitro proof, import mark on bottom
of the right tube, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with Southgate ejectors. The barrels
of each gun are fitted to the casehardened bar-action sidelock action with Grant’s
classic sidelever, fluted leaf fences, and Grant’s house pattern tight English scroll engraving on all
sides surrounding a gold inlaid “1” or “2” at the front of the upper tang and “STEPHEN GRANT & SONS.”
signatures on either lockplate before continuing onto the blued sidelever, trigger guard, and lower
tang. The guns feature bushed firing pins, double triggers, and a tang mounted automatic safety
with gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator. The guns are both fitted with a highly attractive richly figured
splinter forend with engraved blue iron and Anson button release with a gold “1” or “2” as well as
a straight hand stock with teardrop carved flats, a hand clutching a hunting horn in the gold oval,
and a checkered butt. Includes a maker’s leather flat case that houses both guns as well as a set of
snap caps and an oiler. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the
breech both proofed and measured at .729 inches; choke constriction .005/.010 inches; minimum
wall thickness .025/.024 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; cast-off; 14
11/16 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 8 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally restored, retaining 98% blue finish, some flashes of original case colors with
an overall brushed bright appearance, a few small patches of minor pitting, some spotting on the barrels, a repaired crack on the forend, and sharp
checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good with mild storage/transit wear. B) Stephen Grant & Sons Sidelever Shotgun - Serial no. 8067, 12 gauge, 29 inch solid
rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. As described in “A”. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed at .729 inches and measured .731/.735
inches; choke constriction .014/.016 inches; minimum wall thickness .025/.023 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; cast-off; 14 3/4 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 8 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine overall as professionally refurbished, retaining 98% blue finish, traces of original case colors on the action which has a brushed bright appearance, a few tiny pits at the left breech, a small split
at the rear of the left lockplate, a three cracks in the forend (two repaired), and sharp checkering on the wood. Mechanically excellent. A great chance for a lovely pair of English guns!
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 3452
Factory Engraved John Dickson & Son “London Pattern” Sidelock
Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 7223, 12 gauge, 30
inch solid rib bbl., black/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Completed in 1930 according to
page 81 of Nigel Brown’s “British Gunmaker’s
Volume Two: Birmingham, Scotland & the
Regions”. The gun has black steel dovetail lump
barrels featuring a single bead sight on the
matted flat solid rib, “JOHN DICKSON & SON,”
and “32 HANOVER STREET EDINBURGH.” marked on the right and left tube respectively, a
band of engraving at the breech, and chambers marked for “1 1/4” oz. of shot (2 3/4 inches) with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted
to the casehardened sidelock action which displays near full coverage classic rose and scroll engraving surrounding “JOHN DICKSON &
SON.” signatures on either lockplate. This gun was built during the period (1916-1938) that Harry Kell did the majority of the engraving for
Dickson. The gun features sideclips, hidden third fastener, double triggers, right hand beaded trigger guard, and a tang mounted automatic safety
with gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator. The gun is fitted with a richly figured forend and with engraved iron and Anson button release as well as a straight hand stock with teardrop
carved drop points, “J.H.” in the gold inscription oval, and a checkered bare butt. While Dickson & Son was known for their round body triggerplate design, customers demanded a “London Pattern”
sidelock gun be made, with this being one of the just 269 built. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed and measured at “12” (.729 inches); choke
constriction .024/.031 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.029 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/16 inch drop at heel; 13 3/4 inch length of pull; slight cast-off; weight 7 lbs. 7 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, retaining 95% original black finish, 90% original case colors, light handling evidence, a few tiny freckles of spotting, some dings and scratches on the wood, and sharp
checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,000 - 11,000