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Pictured below is a Joseph Lang & Son 450-400 3.25" Nitro Express. Completed at 102 New Bond Street, London on November 7th, 1906 for a Captain Fitzgerald at a cost of seventy three ponds and ten shillings. Joseph Lang was established in 1821(Married 1 of 4 of James Purdey's daughter's), Became Joseph Lang & Son in 1901 and remained as such until 1925 when the firm became Stephen Grant & Joseph Lang Ltd.

She was built on a Webley A & W C 1st (Screw Grip) long bar as a top snap best quality hammerless ejector cordite rifle 450/400 3.25" with 26" chopper lump steel barrels with a rib extension third bite and a quarter rib with 1 standing and 2 folding rear sights marked 100, 200 and 300. She was regulated for 60 grains Cordite and 400 grain bullets at 100, 200 and 300 yards.

She has a Baker extended top strap extended 3 1/8" past the point of the comb, trigger guard tang extended to a steel grip cap, fold up night sight, bushed strikers, double triggers, drop points, 85% coverage of fine rose and scroll engraving with carved acanthus leaves on the balls of the action and carved trefoil fences. The grip cap, trigger guard, top strap and quarter rib are also very nicely engraved.

The left barrel is marked "450/400 3 1/4" Case 60 Grs Cordite or Equivalent In Axite 400 Grain Nickel Bullet" and the right barrel "Joseph Lang & Son 102 New Bond Street, London."

She has recently been recently restored/restocked in the proper English style and is cased in a modern oak and leather trunk case with trade label, snap caps (Thanks Jonathan) and accessories. She has a LOP of 14 5/8" to a leather covered pad and weighs in at 10 pounds 7 ounces.

According to the Atkin Grant & Lang records she was delivered to a Captain Fitzgerald in Novemebr 1906 as mentioned earlier. In January 1912 the gun was in the possesion of Lieutenant Colonel W.A. Tilney and then in January 1929 the gun was passed to Major P.F.N. Toulmin. Atkin Grant & Lang has no more record of this rifle until the present day.

One interesting point in this rifles provenance is that Lt. Col. W.A. Tilney has recently had his memoirs published by his Grand Daughter in a book titled "Colonel Standfast: The Memoirs of W.A. Tilney 1868-1947 (A Soldiers Life in England, India, The Boer War and Ireland)." Sadly the book does not mention the Lang nor much of his big game hunting exploits but is, none the less, a very interesting view into the life of one of her previous owners. I am currently in the process of contacting W.A. Tilney's Grand Daughter in an attempt to get more information and will post if I find anything.

A couple notable highlight's in W.A Tilneys military career are; pioneering the use of the hot air balloon in military reconaissance (Ladysmith Siege during January of 1900) and writing "Marching or Flying by Night Without a Compass With Time Table of Directional Stars" which was a booklet instructing the average soldier or person on how to use the stars as a means of finding direction at night and went to at least 11 editions (Tilney would also travel around teaching classes on the subject). This interesting fellow was also captured by the Boers in 1901, fought in WW1 as regimental commander of the 17th Lancers, participated in many driven bird shoots with gentlemen such as the Lord de Grey (later the Marquis of Ripon) and risked his life on multiple occasions rallying for the cause of ex-servicemen in Southern Ireland. I wont bore you any further with the details of Tilney's life but suffice it to say that Lt. Col. W.A. Tilney was quite the character and offers wonderful insight into the life and times of the English officer in the early 1900's.

Now a few pictures... Please excuse the poor quality of the last two pictures, my good camera is on the fritz. I will post more photos when I get my camera back. Enjoy;

I would like to thank Tinker for all of his advice and help getting this rifle checked out locally, 400NitroExpress for giving me so much information on this rifle and Pre War English DR's in general, JTomlinson for the help in getting suitable snap caps and the very generous gift, 2Triggers for the help with reloading supplies and allowing me to use your dies and last but definitely not least... All the members of this wonderful site for the help, advice and education on the wonderful Double Rifle. You have all helped to make my dream into a reality. Thank You!

Edited by DRarchive (28/07/08 10:51 PM)

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