New Inventory - Magnificent Pair of Kell engraved John Dickson & Son Sidelocks, made in 1919
12 bore, bar-action sidelock ejector, side-by-side shotgun
Price on Application
We are privileged to present a truly spectacular pair of
John Dickson & Son 12 Gauge Sidelock Ejector Guns
Delivered in 1919, these 'London Pattern' sidelock guns are not only in superlative condition but have the additional rarity of sporting the beautiful foliate scroll engraving of Harry Kell.
The actions are in superb condition, and utilise Dickson Round-Action components such as the safety catch, low-profile toplever, safety spring and top-lever spring. The locks are of the detachable variety and this function is an ultra-rarity on Dickson sidelocks.
The engraving is crisp throughout, even at the typical wear points, the guns have been used extensively but have been carefully cared for and maintained.
New 28 inch chopper-lump steel barrels were fitted by Dickson's in 1991, and these benefit from 2 3/4in chambers. These barrels are perfect internally and externally and still measure as the day they were proved.
Both guns have well figured replacement stocks and fore-ends, and are in superb condition, the butt ends finished with 7/8 inch leather covered Silvers recoil pads. The stocks are set for left-hand but can be altered accordingly.
As a true pair the stock dimensions, overall weights and barrel weights are exactly the same.
The guns come complete in their original oak-and-leather case, which is in fine condition, and fitted with a compliment of Dickson accessories.
Provenance
The guns were delivered on 12th August 1919 - The Glorious Twelfth, to a Captain in the Royal Engineers, and for the last thirty years the guns have been in sole-family ownership.
During that ownership the guns have been maintained at no expense spared, with servicing on a regular basis, including new stocks and fore-ends fitted and new chopper-lump steel barrels at huge expense.
The guns feature unusual hand detachable locks by Joseph Brazier Ashes, only one other Dickson sidelock has this feature, it was delivered in 1924, and it was also engraved by Harry Kell.
Specification
Gun No. 1
- Action: Bar-action sidelock ejector, top lever with Scott spindle and Purdey bolt, detachable lock, Anson push-rod fore-end fastener
- Gauge: 12
- Barrels: Chopper-lump steel
- Barrel Length : 28in
- Rib: 1/4in
- Chambers: 2 3/4in (70mm)
- Proof: London Nitro Proof at 18.5mm in 1991
- Bores: 18.5mm (R) & .18.5mm (L)
- Walls: .023 (R) & .023 (L)
- Chokes : 3/8 (R) & 3/8+ (L)
- Ejectors: Yes, Southgate type
- Stock dimensions: Drop at Comb 1 5/8in, Drop at Heel 2 1/4in, 15in to centre (including 7/8in leather covered pad)
- Cast ON: 3/8in
- Weight: 7lb
- Case: Makers double oak-and-leather case
- Location: Dunkeld, Scotland
Gun No. 2
- Action: Bar-action sidelock ejector, top lever with Scott spindle and Purdey bolt, detachable lock, Anson push-rod fore-end fastener
- Gauge: 12
- Barrels: Chopper-lump steel
- Barrel Length : 28in
- Rib: 1/4in
- Chambers: 2 3/4in (70mm)
- Proof: London Nitro Proof at 18.5mm in 1991
- Bores: 18.5mm (R) & .18.5mm (L)
- Walls: .023 (R) & .023 (L)
- Chokes : 3/8 (R) & 3/8 (L)
- Ejectors: Yes, Southgate type
- Stock dimensions: Drop at Comb 1 5/8in, Drop at Heel 2 1/4in, 15in to centre (including 7/8in leather covered pad)
- Cast ON: 3/8in
- Weight: 7lb
- Case: Makers double oak-and-leather case
- Location: Dunkeld, Scotland
Dickson 'London Pattern' Sidelock Guns
John Dickson's patent 'Round-Action' design had been a huge success since its inception in 1880 but from the 1890's some customers asked for conventional London pattern sidelock guns. There was perhaps a perception amongst some sportsmen that London sidelocks were the epitome of perfection and style and hence, staying brand loyal, they asked Dickson to build such guns. With only 269 best sidelock ejector shotguns built by John Dickson & Son, they can be considered a rarity, and Dickson records suggest that Harry Kell engraved 12 of these.
Kell and Dickson's
During the 19th century John Dickson & Son, took the bold decision to send their best guns and rifles from Edinburgh down to the Sumner engraving workshop in Soho, London. The Sumners (four generations of engravers, all named Jack) specialised in engraving fine rose and scroll and bold scroll in the style that Dickson preferred and it is likely that all Round-Actions and best guns and rifles up to the First World War were done by the Sumner workshop. Boss & Co. also used the Sumners exclusively and so there is a distinct similarity between Dickson guns and Boss guns in their fine rose and scroll style in this period. After the First World War, Jack returned from military service to work exclusively for Boss & Co. and so the relationship ended with Dickson's at that point. We do know that during this time if a customer wanted something quite bold, Dickson's was sending this work to Sanders and Kell, also operating in Soho, London.
Like the many other trades based in Soho, the engravers were conveniently placed for the great gunmakers in London's West End - Wilkes, Churchill, Evans, Rigby and Watson Brothers, in addition to more obvious makers such as Purdey, Holland & Holland and Woodward who were all less than a 15 minute walk away. The odd one out being Dickson's, whose guns and rifles would be packed up and carried just over the road from Princes Street to Waverley Station in Edinburgh and make the 400 mile journey by train to arrive at Kings Cross London and then being collected from the station and delivered to the craftsmen in Soho.
Its difficult to put an exact figure on the number of Kell engraved Dickson's but they are few and far between. There is occasional mention of 'special engraving' in the Dickson ledgers and this was always awarded to Harry to complete. We do know that the majority of Harry Kell's work lies between the Dickson gun number range of 6600 -> 7400 which is the years 1916 to 1938 and this is therefore likely to be in the region of 35 guns. The last two pairs of Round-Actions engraved by Kell were the commemorative guns to celebrate Dickson's 100 years of being in business at 63 Princes Street, where he adorned the sides of the actions with the panoramic view of Edinburgh, taken from the 19th century Dickson paper gun case label.
