Guns on trial
The original ‘Field Trials’ were less about gundogs and more about gun design – and
Diggory Hadoke has a relic in his gunroom that appeared in the first trial event of 1875
T
he term ‘Field Trial’ today evokes images of
gundogs competing for accolades. However,
the origins of the term stem from gun tests
conducted under the auspices of the editor of The
Field, John Henry Walsh. During the second half
of the 19th century, several such trials were held.
They were prompted by heated letters to the
editor either espousing or rubbishing various
claimed improvements in sporting gun design. Mr
Walsh, tiring of the often acrimonious savaging of
one another by his readers over these
issues (many of the letterwriters were
gunmakers), decided to put himself
forward as a neutral arbiter and
devised trials to determine,
objectively, the veracity of the
various claims.
Probably the most influential
of the shotgun Field Trials, as
they became known, were the
1858/9 trials to determine whether
breech-loaders were safe and effective
when compared with muzzle-loaders, and the
1875 trial to test the effectiveness of choke-boring
over cylinder-bored guns.
Here, we are interested in the latter, because I
happen to have one of the guns that featured in
that trial in my gunroom right now. But before we
look at the gun, some background to the trial in
which it competed. Choke-boring (narrowing thebore at the muzzle to make patterns tighter) was
pioneered in the first half of the 19th century in the
United States by several gunmakers. W.R. Pape,
of Newcastle, lodged the first reference to it in a
British patent (1501 of 1866), stating: “By this
improved construction of bore, stronger and
closer shooting will be acquired”.
However, Pape never made much fuss about
his new patent and it wasn’t until 1874, when
W.W. Greener started testing choke-bored barrels
in his guns, that any momentum picked
up (Pape had not renewed the patent
protection in 1873). Greener was a
far more savvy marketer than
Pape and he wasted no time
getting samples of his
choke-bored guns to Mr Walsh
at The Field.
Walsh inspected Greener’s
guns and told readers that
Greener was now taking orders for
12-bore guns that could put 210 pellets
of No.6 shot in a 30" circle, using three drams
of powder. This drew a flurry of letters from
readers, many questioning the veracity of the
claimed patterns or the safety and durability of
choked barrels. So, Walsh decided to organise an
event where gunmakers could bring their guns- choke-bored or not – and see whose gun shot
with the tightest patterns and best penetration.
The trial was held at the Croquet Club in
Wimbledon on 26 April 1875. Three classes were
open: 8-bore, 12-bore and 20-bore. Pape cheated
by sneaking more shot into his cartridges in
hollowed-out wads. However, Greener (using
barrels bored by master barrelmaker William Ford)
won all three choke-bore classes. The
effectiveness of choke was thus established.
Another trial that year confirmed that choke-bored
barrels suffered no appreciable wear or change in
pattern over prolonged use (2,500 shots).
The one 12-bore class Greener did not win was
the ‘English bore’ class, which Thomas Turner
won, with a barrel constricted by five thou’ (in
effect, modern Improved Cylinder). Turner also did
well in the 8-bore class, coming in second place.
That 8-bore is the gun now in my possession. It
has undergone some changes since it was
submitted for trial all those years ago.The barrels
have been shortened to 31¾" and re-browned
several times, though they still carry proof marks
only for black powder.
The pistol grip stock has been altered to make
a new comb profile and has been fitted with a
rubber butt pad. The blued action is a Jones
underlever with rebounding back-locks; and it
clearly originated at W&C Scott, as it is stamped
with the Scott trademark of a tower. Weight is
10lb 3oz. The bar of the action is engraved with
‘This Gun was Second at the Field Trials 1875’.PICTURES:
DIGGORY HADOKE
CLASSIC GUNS WITH DIGGORY HADOKE
GET
IN TOUCH
Diggory Hadoke runs Vintage Guns,
the specialist site for buying, selling
and repairing classic British shotguns
and rifles. Contact him on 01584
878485 or go to
http://www.vintageguns.co.ukThe double 8-bore has seen several alterations
since 1875, including a Silver’s pad and comb insert