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In past discussions on 28-bore shotguns I made mention of an example in my gunsafe, and threatened to toss up a few photos when I got time. Having recently compiled an article for publication in our local Arms Collectors Journal, that time has come. Hopefully it is of some interest to fellow forumites here.

The example pictured is a 28-bore single-barrel top-lever hammer shotgun with a back-action rebounding lock that started life in the 1880s as a .425 rook rifle made in England for retail by W.E.Ekins in South Australia.

William Emery Ekins was a prominent colonial gunsmith and arms retailer born in North Adelaide in 1853. He was apprenticed to “The Practical English Gun-maker” R. Marjoram who had a business at 37A King William Street, Adelaide, becoming a partner in the business and eventually buying it outright in 1878. William Emery Ekins died in 1937 but the business was carried on by his son Archie as general manager until his death in 1959. Archie’s son Dennis, together with his son Ashley, carried on until the business was wound up in 1969 after 91 years of service to the Australian shooting public.

The large triangle trade-mark visible on the action flats is that of John Thomas of Slaney Street, Birmingham. Within the triangle is the reference to British Patent No.3091 of 1871, covering the so-called “wedge-bolt action”, a type of barrel bolting mechanism found on this gun. This example including Thomas’ trade-mark is identical to rook rifles retailed by the distinguished London firm of Holland & Holland in the late 1800s. Anyone with a copy of Colin Greenwood's authoritative reference book "The Classic British Rook & Rabbit Rifle" is directed to pages 89 to 93 for illustrations of the H&H-retailed version of this firearm and a discussion on Thomas's gun-making prowess.

Clearly this firearm travelled from the "Old Country" to the colony of South Australia before Federation chambered for the .425 Rook cartridge, at which time it would have been well regarded as a kangaroo rifle.

At some point we must assume the bore became unserviceable, possibly due to black powder corrosion or a hornet's nest, and the decision was made to bore-out the rifling for a small-bore shotgun conversion. We will likely never know whether the work was done in Australia or the UK, but we do know from the proof marks on the barrel that it was submitted to the London Proof House between 1887 and 1896 where it passed black-powder proof for 28-bore shotshells. Clearly it subsequently travelled back to Australia because here it now resides! How the seemingly excessive cost and logistics of this course of action could have been justified ~130 years ago is anyone's guess!

Luckily for us, the gunsmith who did the conversion did not compromise and the quality of workmanship is astounding.
This illustration shows the very well fitted engine-turned repair following removal of the rear sight block. It is entirely unnoticeable without close examination and virtually invisible in normal use.

The other unique feature of this firearm is the fired case extraction system. A vertical bar is externally affixed to the side of the action to push back the extractor when the gun is opened. It could be considered an improvement to Tranter's early manual extraction system, whereby the protruding "wings" on the extractor plate are actuated by the vertical lever rather than gripped and pulled rearward by the shooter's fingers. Perhaps Crudgington & Baker have described this extractor in their volumes but there is no hint of such a thing in Greenwood's text that I could find.

Regardless of the circumstances that have shaped the history of this interesting firearm, I feel privileged to be its current custodian. In my crazier moments I entertain aspirations of returning it to its former glory as a rook rifle, perhaps chambered for the .380 Rook cartridge as surplus .375 14-inch twist barrels can be found for sleeving, courtesy of Brno 602 conversions. In reality I would be crazy not to simply enjoy owning this amazing 28-bore single-barrel shotgun as-is. While I continue to ponder its well-travelled past having thrice crossed the equator, I can assure you it won't be going anywhere in the foreseeable future!

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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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