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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Shotguns

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Hi Folks. New to forum
#143672 - 14/10/09 08:00 PM

This is my one and only shotgun. A 1921 William Powell boxlock. I bought it when I was 17 (23 years ago) and love it as much today as I did then. I had it re cased by Marvin Huey who did some absolutely beautiful work. If anybody else has a William Powells I would love to see them.

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alexbeer
.333 member

Reged: 10/04/08
Posts: 389
Loc: Tasmania, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#143675 - 14/10/09 09:35 PM

Welcome Empire375,

Please do join in anytime, and photos are always welcome too.

Lovely gun too by the way.

Best

Alex

alexbeer.com

--------------------

Details matter!

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Mike_Bailey
.400 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: alexbeer]
#143696 - 15/10/09 01:13 AM

Empire375, I come from a village near Birmingham. The William Powell shop was opposite Moor Street
train station, the guns used to be made in the upper floors many years ago, it was a four storey building from memory (35ish years ago). The ground floor was the showroom for their guns and fishing tackle, primarily fly gear. I think their older sidelocks are one of the best used buys on the market if you can track one down, true English best. I think the shop is still there though the guns are made elsewhere in Birmingham, best, Mike

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#143740 - 15/10/09 06:35 AM

Hi Mike

Thanks for that. I too visited the William Powell works about fifteen years ago and cannot remember the exact address but I recall they were extremely help-full and sent me away with a very expensive cleaning kit and the purchase history of my shotgun which at the time blew me away.
My father had insisted that I buy a Greener but had to admit to being impressed at the time with how help-full and friendly they were at William Powell.
Whilst I love all DB shotguns I must confess to being only warm about sidelocks which I guess is unusual. If I had the coin I would surely prefer a John Dickson round action which to my taste is surely the most beautiful.
There are quite a few William Powell boxlocks in Australia but sadly the majority are pretty flogged out.
One interesting aspect of this particular gun is that it was made for an Australian Olympic Shooter.

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#143774 - 16/10/09 01:31 AM

hi empire375

welcome to the forums, i love W. powell's, and have a best quality sidelock ejector single trigger 12 bore that i am doing a bit of clean up work on at the moment, i will see if i can get some pictures up later this evening.

best

peter

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planner
.224 member

Reged: 15/10/09
Posts: 5
Loc: Victoria Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#143793 - 16/10/09 03:03 PM

Empire375

I too have a William Powell, not sure of the build date yet, I have emailed WP&S, but as yet have not recieved a reply. I will hopefully get some photos over the weekend to post. First viewing of yours appears very similar to mine, although yours looks in much better condition.

Quote:

One interesting aspect of this particular gun is that it was made for an Australian Olympic Shooter.

Does the name of the oylmpian happen to be engraved along the top of the right barrel?

Quote:

There are quite a few William Powell boxlocks in Australia but sadly the majority are pretty flogged out.

Sadly mine is nearing this catergory (although not yet past revival). Always been one of those jobs to do when I get some spare cash.

Planner

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: planner]
#143795 - 16/10/09 04:31 PM

Hi Planner

Your correct "Made for Donald Mackintosh Melbourne"

He owned this shop until the 60's I think.

Script is on the right barrel as you suggested.
Donald Mackintosh won the live pigeon shoot at the Paris Games of 1900.
I think William Powell now have their shotguns made in Spain which is kind of sad I feel.
I'm told at some stage Donald Mackintosh also imported Greener shotguns.

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JabaliHunter
.400 member

Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#143799 - 16/10/09 08:17 PM

Powell's have a new owner (Mark Osborne - who was one of the men responsible for the turn-around at EJ Churchill) and have moved into new premises near Oxford I believe. They have a new range of shotguns, some built I think in Italy by Batista Rizzini and some by Arietta in Spain. http://www.william-powell.co.uk/

Edited by JabaliHunter (16/10/09 08:30 PM)

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Mike_Bailey
.400 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: JabaliHunter]
#143802 - 16/10/09 09:40 PM

Jabali, were you the buyer of the single shot .303 Holland and Holland at the last Holts auction ? best, Mike

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sbs470
.333 member

Reged: 15/04/04
Posts: 378
Loc: Sheffield Tasmania

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#143805 - 16/10/09 10:28 PM

Empire375
Welcome to the forum

I had William Powell and son build a Best No3 Boxlock in 1985 Chopper lump 30 inch barrels 1/4 & 1/2 chokes,rose & scroll engraving, cased.It was delivered to me in Perth WA 1986 by that great British gun and outdoors writer Fred J Taylor.
Mike Bailey is correct in saying they are Best guns.They are really under valued at the auctions.
As long as the rest of the world don't realize this people who do like Powells can pick up a Best gun at a reasonable price.

JabaliHunter is correct.William Powell & son at 35-37 Carrs lane Birmingham has gone.1802-2008 RIP
to take their place is William Powell Carrs House 1 Tramway .Banbury Oxford

From articles I've read and conversations I have had with old shooters ,Donald McIntosh had a number of Powell guns.He was also their Australian agent.

good shooting
sbs470

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Mike_Bailey
.400 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: sbs470]
#143806 - 16/10/09 10:47 PM

sbs470, blimey, did you know Fred J, I grew up reading his books, happy memories. Thanks for reminding me of the address, Carrs Lane, remember the shop so well though so many years ago, glad there are people on this forum who know such stuff, takes me back to being a child, best Mike

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: peter]
#143809 - 16/10/09 11:31 PM

as promised, i will see to it that i will make a write up and photo shoot one of the nearest days

best regards

peter

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JabaliHunter
.400 member

Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#143814 - 17/10/09 12:28 AM

Quote:

Jabali, were you the buyer of the single shot .303 Holland and Holland at the last Holts auction ? best, Mike

Not me - was too snowed under to make it over unfortunately.

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Paul
.400 member

Reged: 28/08/07
Posts: 1031
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: JabaliHunter]
#143885 - 18/10/09 02:34 PM

Very nice gun, Empire375. I afraid the English one I've got is an old Greener Forester's hammer gun once given to me by the father of Ross Stevenson, the 3AW breakfast presenter.

I don't suppose you know what street that shop of Donald MacIntosh's was in?

- Paul

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Paul]
#143886 - 18/10/09 02:41 PM

Hi Paul

I believe it was 432 Bourke Street. I'm not for certain though.

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Paul
.400 member

Reged: 28/08/07
Posts: 1031
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#143888 - 18/10/09 02:51 PM

Thanks E375,
by the slope, that would put it on the north side, maybe near Hardware Street. I think Alcock & Pierce were in Hardware for some time and may have incorporated MacIntosh eventually. I suppose I could check but don't have time just now.

Cheers

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Paul]
#143889 - 18/10/09 03:06 PM

Hi Paul
Mr Google maps says your are pretty close to spot on. I reckon I can remember buying a crossbow as a kid around Hardware Lane or abouts. Maybe it was at Alcock & Pierce ?
How times have changed !

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planner
.224 member

Reged: 15/10/09
Posts: 5
Loc: Victoria Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: sbs470]
#143931 - 19/10/09 09:59 AM

sbs470

Quote:

From articles I've read and conversations I have had with old shooters ,Donald McIntosh had a number of Powell guns.He was also their Australian agent.

Correct, as far as I am aware. My grandfather and great grandfather shopped at the store and on occasion had shot quail with Donald McIntosh. Not all guns stamped with his name had been his personal guns.

Quote:

I believe it was 432 Bourke Street. I'm not for certain though.

Will check when I go home for lunch, I still have the receipt from 1955 when mine purchased second hand by my great grandfather through the shop.

Planner

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planner
.224 member

Reged: 15/10/09
Posts: 5
Loc: Victoria Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: planner]
#143947 - 19/10/09 02:42 PM

Quote:

Will check when I go home for lunch, I still have the receipt from 1955 when mine purchased second hand by my great grandfather through the shop.

Found the invoice from 1955, the address is listed as 191-193 LaTrobe Street (near Swanston Street). I dont know the city all that well, but from what I can find on google it is now covered by Melbourne Central.

Planner

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: planner]
#143953 - 19/10/09 06:00 PM

Maybe he moved...........

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1410222

I have found other references on the net to the 432 Bourke Street address (including one where he sold the gun for Melbournes first mass murder) but I cannot find them now.
I would like to see the receipt for interests sake. I bet the price was good !!

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planner
.224 member

Reged: 15/10/09
Posts: 5
Loc: Victoria Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#144437 - 26/10/09 10:55 AM

Empire375

Copy of invoice as requested. It took me a while as I didn't have a scanned copy or an account on a hosting site.

From what I can establish, the value at the time was about 10-12 weeks of a labourers wage.

Planner

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: planner]
#144481 - 26/10/09 07:31 PM

Hi Planner
I'm sorry. I missed your post.
I find this extremely fascinating indeed !! Thanks so much for scanning it for me !! I agree with your calculations re affordability.
I'm amazed to see Terms - 30Days. To think somebody in the city did that is amazing. You wont see that anywhere today thats for sure.
I wonder about the stamp duty ?
I notice your shotgun has side clips as does mine.
Some of the other script is very difficult to read however.
I will be in the city this week and I'll have a look for the site - If its now Melbourne Central as you say then all is lost.
I think you are extremely lucky to have this record of a time past, I wish I had this to go with my gun thats for sure.
I understand the trouble you have gone to and I'm very grateful. This sort of stuff to me is as valuable as the gun itself in many ways.

Bob

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planner
.224 member

Reged: 15/10/09
Posts: 5
Loc: Victoria Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#144559 - 27/10/09 05:11 PM

Quote:

I'm sorry. I missed your post.

Bob you didn't miss the post I was late replying, you posted only 8 hours later.

Quote:

Some of the other script is very difficult to read however.

After looking closely over an extended period, I think it reads:

1 x 12G H'Case (don't know if this refers to hard case or half case, it has a leather leg of mutton case with it and a timber case that I believe was made by my grandfather)
? ? ? ? Side Clip
Box Lock W. Powell
Shot Gun Ejectors

No. Serial num (partially blacked by me)
Signature
CASH

I will chase down some photos and post shortly.
Bob I notice your location is Victoria. Which direction from Melbourne, I'm about 2hrs north (Goulburn valley).

Planner

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Empire375
.300 member

Reged: 18/08/09
Posts: 239
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: planner]
#144560 - 27/10/09 05:20 PM

Hi Planner

I would very much like to see some pics.
I'm in Highett (near Sandringham).
Ill try to get some better pics of mine also but sadly I'm not much of a photographer. Ill have a serious go over the cup break.

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xausa
.400 member

Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 2037
Loc: Tennessee, USA

Re: Hi Folks. New to forum [Re: Empire375]
#144763 - 30/10/09 09:55 AM

What appears to be the same gun, listed as "Powell's Pigeon and Wildfowl Gun" is listed in the 1939 Stoeger's catalog for $315.00. It is described as "A handsome fine quality gun, 30 inch steel barrels, both full choke, chambered for the 2 3/4-inch or 3-inch cartridges, and specially bored to give dense patterns, dead level flat file cut rib, Anson and Deeley locks, treble grip with strong square concealed cross bolt and side clips. Half pistol grip stock. Handsomely engraved and finished. Weight 7 1/2 pounds to 8 pounds."

A comperable Greener boxlock non-ejector sold for $288.00.

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