I very nearly used Libby's not unkind but perhaps too accurate term "gun porn", but quailed at putting it in the title, fearing just what search engines might send people here. The Stephen Grant 16 is all cleaned up-- mechanicals by John Besse, wood by me-- safe to shoot, and pretty-- now I must decide what else if anything to do to bring it back to life. One set of numbers suggests it was made in 1868, but given its signs of being a converted pinfire, I must wonder if that was when it was converted. But the fine scroll is a mostly 1870 (and later) characteristic.
It really is a BEST gun though-- airy balance right on the hinge pin. Adding removable Briley Titanium tubes in 28 wouldn't get it to 6 pounds!
Here it is with its fellow 16's-- a square- backed Browning from FN in its first year of production, a 30's Belgian guild gun made for Stoeger in the 30's and sold at Abercrombie to my friend Gerry, or rather his grandfather, when he was 13, Soon afterwards, his mother took it over and shot enough Yankee grouse with it to shoot it loose. Look how much deeper a typical Anson and Deeley action is than that of a back action sidelock.
And with its sister English gun, my amazing 4 pound Thomas Turner .410. Recently the Field has published an article suggesting Turner was one of only six provincial makers who made their own actions. If this is true it makes this rare long- stocked .410 even more unusual. I already knew they were specialist makers of lightweight guns, not just .410's.
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