Long-time posters here may remember my long-standing desire to own a 12-bore paradox (yeah, who wouldn't?), and the implied "first right of refusal" I had been offered on a gun of my name-sake here in Australia's Top End many years ago.

As luck would have it, my good friend finally decided to move it on to make room for ever more exotic treasures, and I was given the opportunity to acquire this marvelous firearm. Best of all, it had been re-regulated in the interim on the advice of David Winks, and now shoots perfectly at practical hunting ranges.

The gun in question is an "Oranson", the boxlock extractor nitro paradox made by Holloway & Co for P. Orr & Sons of Rangoon and Madras. One may speculate that it was probably completed around 1924 or early 1925 as it turned up on licence in Bombay on 12th May 1925.

The right barrel is engraved with the inscription: "The Oranson" P.Orr & Sons, Rangoon & Madras, followed by the serial number of the gun.

The left barrel is inscribed with: Specially made by G & S Holloway Imperial Works Birmingham.

I have not yet shot this firearm seriously for target accuracy but my first half-dozen shots out of it (with cartridges loaded by the previous owner) knocked over every steel pig I fired at on the silhouette range! The targets I have attempted, standing supported, have returned 2-inch pairs at 50 metres, however the lead builds up quickly in the rifled chokes and after about 8 or 10 shots I start to lose bets!

The photos below are not brilliant but they should give you the general idea. Not included is a photo of my perpetually smiling face!!

Bring on the dry season! I really need to get this fabulous firearm out into the hunting field!