Product Details
JOHN DICKSON & SON
A PAIR OF 12-BORE 1887 PATENT 'ROUND ACTION' TRIGGERPLATE-ACTION EJECTORS, serial no. 4933 / 4,
30in. nitro fine damascus barrels, ribs engraved 'JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH.', No.1 left barrel at 17+, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 1/2 choke, Dickson patent treble-grip round-actions incorporating patents 9399 and 10621 of 1887, use numbers 654 and 655, gold cocking-indicators, automatic safeties with gold 'SAFE' details, profusely engraved with fine acanthus scrollwork, the makers name engraved in scrolling banners and the undersides with celtic strapwork, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 15 1/4in. highly-figured pistolgrip stocks, No.1 cracked and repaired through hand, No.2 with small crack to rear of top tang and including 1 1/2in. wooden extension (very well inked to match), fore-ends inlaid in silver '1' and '2', weight 6lb. 9oz., in a green velvet lined lightweight leather motor case with Dickson trade label
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this pair of shotguns were completed with 30in. barrels in September 1897 for Sir John Gilmour.
Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., P.C., T.D., J.P., D.L. was born May 1876, the son of his namesake who was chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, who was created a baronet in 1897.
Sir John served with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, firstly in Africa in 1900 and later during the Great War and acquitted himself bravely during both. He remained with the regiment after the war and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Later he was made Honorary Colonel.
He also enjoyed a successful career in politics and most notably served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1926. He ended his time as a politician as Minister for Shipping during the early months of the last war but died in office in 1940.
Gilmour was a passionate sporting man and aside from his love of shooting was Master of the Fife Fox Hounds from 1902 - 1906.
It would seem reasonably to assume that this pair of shotguns may have been presented to him on the occasion of his 21st birthday.
Estimate £6,000-8,000
S2