A GAME GUN FOR AFRICA
About two years ago, I acquired a nice old 1914-vintage 12-bore shotgun by William Evans, a respected London maker. The gun was not in the best condition externally, but it was made on what is commonly known as a Webley screw-grip, box-lock action. As William Evans did very little practical gunmaking of their own, almost all of the guns and rifles sold prior to 1939 and bearing that firm’s name, were made for them by Webley & Scott, one of the largest gunmaking concerns in Britain before World War II. Webley & Scott also produced guns for many of the other British makers and retailers of the time.
Screw-grip, box-lock actions have not been in production since the early 1940s but as they are renowned for strength and reliability, I bought the old gun, notwithstanding its sub-standard condition. The fact that it fitted me well enough and that the gun, with its 30-inch barrels swung like a dream were important deciding factors. After shooting it afew times, I decided to have it restored to
