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James MacNaughton 28g Top-Lever Back-Action Peninsula lock with Rebounding Hammers

#1306, this gun was made around 1898 and has two sets of 24” dovetail lump fluid steel barrels with concave game ribs, single beads and “J. MacNaughton Edinburgh” engraved on the ribs. The barrel flats are numbered “1” and “2” respectively with original London black powder proof marks and 2010 London re-proofs. Barrel set No. 1 was reproofed for 2 ¾" chambers and 15.2mm bores; they measure .601” and .600” and have min wall thickness in the right barrel of .034” and the left barrel of .033” and both with full choke (.044”). Barrel set No. 2 was reproofed for 2 ¾" chambers only and has barrels that measure .550” with .006” constriction in the right barrel and measures .554” in the left with .004” constriction.

Stocked with a straight hand and a 14  9/16” LOP over a leather covered pad, the stock is well figured and features flat top checkered grip and full checkered forends, one for each barrel appropriately numbered to match the barrels.

The rounded bar of the action and the lock plates have a nice small scroll and nicely shaped fences.

The action, locks and hammers are a pewter grey, and the barrels retain most of a nice re-black. The stock looks to be original aside from the new leather covered pad. The stock oval remains blank.

Finally, the gun is complete in its original lightweight leather 2-barrel set case with Maker’s trade soiled paper trade label.

Overall, this is delightful gun to handle, it makes a neat package and is in very serviceable condition.

These guns were apparently made on the basis of a "good deal" that MacNaughton got on the 24" tubes and the firm made just over 30 or so, according to Diggory Hadoke's book: Hammer Guns, In Theory and In Practice. The guns were marketed as a great choice for the hunter of Ptarmigan and other game birds found in the highlands, where a lot of walking and climbing may be required. The guns small size made it easy to handle in terrain that was challenging. I don't know how much of that pitch is plausible, but no doubt these guns would be a gentleman quail hunter’s delight!

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