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SCARCE JOHN DICKSON & SON LONDON PATTERN SIDELOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 11,000.00 USD
SCARCE JOHN DICKSON & SON LONDON PATTERN SIDELOCK
EJECTOR GAME GUN WITH CASE. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 11/16". S# 6982 (1924). Bbl. 27 1/4". John Dickson of Edinburgh is most famous for his superb round action guns, but many patrons wanted a London pattern side lock so they were offered throughout production, but most often were made after WWI. A total of 249 were produced. It is believed that actions are sourced from London. It is known that Dicksons had a working relationship with Boss and Co. and it is possible they were the source of most of their sidelock guns. Factory records indicate that this gun was sold on Sept. 30th, 1924 and was made with 29" barrels. Barrels presently measure 27 1/8" and are fitted with narrow swamped game rib engraved “John Dickson & Son. 63 Princes Street Edinburgh”. Barrels are of chopper lump construction and flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 1 1/8oz shot (2 1/2" chambers). Chambers actually measure 2 11/16". Bottoms of barrels are stamped with provisional proofs and with Sir Joseph Whitworth sheaf of wheat trademarks. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold) and dbl. triggers (front articulated). Action engraved with near full coverage. Classic English rose and scroll, most likely done by Sumners of London who normally did engraving for Dicksons as well as Boss. “John Dickson & Son” is at the bottom of each lockplate and bottom of action engraved “DICKSON Edinburgh". Blued top lever and trigger guard engraved with matching rose and scroll and S# is on trigger guard tang. Superbly crafted, recently made straight grip buttstock is of a fine piece of smoky marble and lightly figured European walnut. Stock measures 14 1/2" over checkered wood butt and is classically styled with well shaped drop points and point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip. Wood and checkering closely match that on original provisional splinter ejector forend that has Anson release. MEASUREMENTS: Bore Diameter: Left .730, Right .732. Bore Restrictions: Left .005 (IC), Right .005. Wall Thickness: Left .022, Right .022. DAC: 1 1/2”. DAH: 2 7/16”. Cast: approx. 1/4” off. WEIGHT: 6 lbs, 5 oz. LOP: 14 1/2”. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: tan leather Abercrombie and Fitch marked “VC” case with stitched leather corners. Case is lined in dark burgundy cloth and has gold embossed black Morocco leather Dickson "lion" label without telegraphic address, in lid. CONDITION: very fine as partially refurbished. Barrels retain nearly all of a London quality reblack. Action retains approx. 10% original case hardening color, the remainder a pleasing pewter gray. Lockplates retain 40-50% original color. Temper blue remains on hinge pin head and action pins (most likely renewed). Top lever and trigger guard have nearly all of their reblue. Engraving remains clear. Buttstock retains nearly all of its fine hand rubbed oil finish with 1 or 2 minor marks. Forend has matching refinish, checkering correctly recut. Bores are very fine, bright and shiny with no evidence of raised dents. Action is tight. Barrels are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather is still light in color with some rubs and a couple of tape marks. Original traps and handles are good. Interior cloth is fine with some rubs and light soiling from contact with barrels and action. Dickson label is very fine, partially detached. A very well balanced, lively gun by one of the world’s best makers. (21-1690/MGM). MODERN. $7,000-11,000.