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I don't see ANY connection between the two bolts, seems they just each have their own bolt handle.

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You are right. The third photo appears to show the left bolt open, the right closed.

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BACON BOLT ACTION SxS 12 BORE GAME GUN - A VERY UNUSUAL EARLY BRITISH HAMMERLESS - A Left & Right Hand Turn Bolt System - Approximately 1872 - Overall in Very Nice Condition - Unusual


#334, "Bacons Patent No 334": A Side by Side Bolt Action Extractor Sporting 12 Bore by Lieutenant Francis Bacon that he first patented in England in April of 1868 as #1260 and December 1870 as #3242 and this gun is the later patent. The bolt handles are at the rear of the action and are lifted a quarter of a turn to be drawn back. When the bolt is opened the extractor pulls the cartridge, fired or live, rearward and it falls through the port cut in the bottom of the stock. These guns were made in the early 1870's and were still advertised in 1874 and it is believed several hundred may have been made. The barrels and receiver are one piece damascus with the barrel length at 27 1/2" at .730 .000 & .000 (Cyl. & Cyl.), 2 1/2" chambers, The wall thickness on the right barrel is .029" and .0285 on the left. It has a super piece of wood with a lot of color and contrast with a 14 1/4" LOP over a checkered butt with a steel heel and toe cap, it is 6 lbs. 13 oz. It has WR54504 on the short rib. The barrels are numbered 334 as is the short rib. The bores are quite nice with some pitting scattered about and a few dents but they both overall are pretty doggone decent for a gun of the this age. This is a rare shotgun system that is seldom ever encountered and a very unusual early Breech Loading small arm. In an 1872 advertisement the price for a finished gun was 18 to 20 pound Sterling.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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