VERY FINE JAMES WOODWARD & SON SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER SMALL BORE GAME GUN

VERY FINE JAMES WOODWARD & SON SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER SMALL BORE GAME GUN

22-2261
Cal.16 Ga. 2 3/4″
S# 5994 (circa 1907)

The 29″ (Woodward standard) chopperlump bbls. are engraved “James Woodward & Sons 64 St. James’s St. London S.W. Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth’s Fluid Pressed Steel” on slightly swamped narrow game rib. Rear portion of rib with scroll engraving is gold inlaid “1” with “1” also in gold on top lever & forend tip denoting the first gun of a pair. Bbl. flats are stamped with lightly struck London nitro proofs for 1 oz. of shot. Bottoms of bbls. are stamped with serial numbers, maker’s initials & “WHITWORTH STEEL”. Case hardened square back sidelock action features automatic safety (“SAFE” inlaid in gold & covered by classic Woodward T-shaped top of safety button). Action also features side clips, bushed strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators in bug-eyed Woodward style bearings & single nonselective trigger. Action is filed w/ well shaped beads & fences are in usual Woodward arcaded style. Action & lockplates are engraved with near full coverage well cut small scroll with maker’s name in classic parchment scroll device on each side. Bottom of action with more scroll is emblazoned “WOODWARD’S” “SINGLE TRIGGER” in large, stipled rectangle. Blued small bow trigger guard is engraved with scroll on bow & serial number on tang which extends to horn grip cap. Buttstock with long curved pistol grip is of very finely marbled & lightly figured stump European walnut & measures 14 5/8″ over brown leather covered pad on 1/4″ hard rubber extension. Closely spaced point pattern checkering is at grip. Small drop points are behind locks, & a silver oval engraved “J.L.W.” is on toeline. Matching slim splinter ejector forend has Anson release. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .676″, L .674″. Restriction: R .008″ (IC), L .014″ (MOD). Min. Wall Thickness: R .023″, L .020″. STOCK: DAH: 2 3/8″. DAC: 1 1/2″. LOP: 14 5/8″. CAST: very slightly off. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 1 oz. CONDITION: fine as partially refinished. Bbls. retaining over 90% of a good quality reblack. Engraving somewhat softened. Action & lockplates retain approx. 30-40% original case hardening color. Fairly strong where protected. Top lever & trigger guard retain about 80% of what appears to be a sympathetic reblue. Stocks retain most of an old oil refinish, checkering very competently recut. Pad is relatively new. Bores are bright & shiny with some evidence of old professional dent removal. Action is tight. Bbls. are on face. Ejectors are strong & in time. Trigger appears to work well. A very good small bore Woodward.

STATUS: CURIO