Description
J. R. GOW & SONS 12G SIDE BY SIDE SHOTGUN.
CLASSIC 12G Side by Side Box Lock Ejector Shotgun by J. R. Gow & Sons. Union Street, Dundee.
Not exactly ‘local’ but not THAT far away for anyone up that way looking for a piece of Scottish Gun Making History.
26” (660mm) Fixed choke barrels at Cylinder and ¾ choke restrictions. Complete with unusual 2 ¾” (70mm) chambers and a Plain Concave Tapering Sight Rib and Brass sight bead. Older traditional game guns like this are usually standard 2 ½” (65mm) chambers. Walls are very good too with a minimum in excess of 30,000 anywhere and 35 plus at the critical 14” in. Basically like a new gun as both barrels will take a .729 bore gauge but a .735 goes nowhere other than the bottom of the chambers.
Overall this tips the scales at a Very Nicely Balanced and light weight 6 Lbs 2 oz (2.78 Kg) and measures out to 42 ¼” (1075mm).
A long enough 14 3/8” (365mm) pull length Walnut Stock with Nice Strong Straight Grain. Very Well executed ½” (12mm) extension matching the concave cut butt and Fine Hand Cut Chequering. All original (?) Blue finish to the metal work in PRISTINE condition. In fact this is that clean I am a little suspicious it has not actually been re-finished. If not it IS in remarkable condition. The previous owner tells me he certainly had no work done to it whilst in his possession.
Plain Bright Finished Action with the makers name set above a field of Scroll Work Hand Engraving. A fine Border line runs right around all edges along with a couple of small / minimal patches of matching scroll. Definitely a case of ‘less IS more’. A vacant initials oval is also inlet to the butt, ready to have tours engraved there.
A NICE, Tasteful, Classy little shotgun. Ticks a few of my boxes anyway.
£999.99
In its day and still now an OBVIOUSLY EXCELLENT BEST QUALITY gun.
THE STEEL SHOT DEBACLE?
FIRST THING: Given lead is SO dangerous, can we ask about getting every lead water main replaced? After all, ANYONE with one of those still supplying water has zero choice. LETS PUT THAT QUESTION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT.
That is every child’s grazed knee washed out with lead infested water (direct into their blood stream. Every glass of juice. Every cup of tea or coffee, Vegetables washed and cooked in the stuff. ALL that DELICIOUS Gravy. Cloths washed in it. Then we bath in the sodding lead infested stuff!
HOW DO THEY DEFEND THIS FACT?
THEN THERE ARE more and more Non-Toxic Shot alternatives being produced. WITH near matching performances to traditional lead and close to, if not matching pressures. Take a look at Horton Gunmakers for their own entry into this debacle of modern-day shooting. APPARENTLY so lethally deadly to shooters and game eaters? How is it every old lead water main supply pipe is not getting ripped out and replaced? To my mind it’s a DISGRACE that the shooting industry did not simply ask that one simple question. NO, they saw an excuse to charge a fortune and that mainly to the detriment of the quarry. Just my opinion …..for what its worth?
Anyway, take a look for yourself:
NOW, TRY and help speed up availability. I WILL suggest that YOU pass on details to everyone you know who shoots. Then ask whoever we buy from WHY they are not DEMANDING cartridges made in this material? Basically VOTE with your WALLET.
YES, it will take a little time for everything to filter through, but patience IS a virtue. It also allows everyone who wants to keep hold of their ‘old favourite’ for the rest of their lives. Even pass it on to the next generation and hopefully beyond!
On that note I AM looking into the possibility of stocking some direct from Steve at Hortons. RING for an update and keep checking the web site.
