William Tranter shotgun

[sion]

Hi all.
Possibly the wrong section for this but I’ll ask anyway.

Does anybody have any insights into this maker, and preferably this model too?
I’ll put a link to the shotgun I’m seeking information on below. This isn’t my gun but it is the same model.

WILLIAM TRANTER 12-BORE 1882 PATENT 'THE CARLTON TREBLE SAFETY HAMMERLESS GUN' TRIGGERPLAT...

WILLIAM TRANTER 12-BORE 1882 PATENT 'THE CARLTON TREBLE SAFETY HAMMERLESS GUN' TRIGGERPLATE-ACTION NON-EJECTOR BY T.W. WATSON, serial no. 13, 30in. black po...

www.the-saleroom.com

I inherited it a few years ago, it’s not in great shape and I need the space in my cabinet. But it I can’t bring myself to scrap it!
My father was an antiques and militaria dealer so the fact he bought it and put it on ticket suggests it could be something interesting.
Any information would be great.

Thanks,
Sion

 

[8x57]

William Tranter a Birmingham gunmaker far more famous for his revolvers.

 

[enfieldspares]

What 8x57 said.

The owner of the name, recently, in the 2000x was Gary Clarke of Price Street trading at the time as Pro-Gun Services. Your gun is however a Watson gun. You see many guns that have somewhere engraved "XXX's Patent" or similar. And often then with a "usage" number of that permission granted to the maker to use a mechanism making use of that patent in that particular gun. It's a quality piece as it uses an Anson rod to secure the fore-end, Cheaper quality guns regardless of the "puff" that Westley Richards or Greener might try use Deeley catches or even a snap-on fore-end. An Anson rod is, at that time, the mark of a better quality gun.

 

[enfieldspares]

T W Watson would evolve into Watson Brothers. That company is now "re-born" and has a website.

History - Watson Bros

A Tradition of Excellence Thomas Watson was the son-in-law of the renowned gun and revolver maker William Tranter. In 1875 Thomas Watson acquired the company and premises of Durs Egg at 4 Colonnade, Pall Mall. Durs Egg was a gunmaker of Swiss origin who established his business in London in 1772...

www.watsonbrosgunmakers.com

 

[GWP]

Speak to Bill Harriman at basc he is your man

 

[enfieldspares]

Speak to Bill Harriman at basc he is your man

Yeah. Ask him if it's OK to use steel shot in it.

 

[Pedro]

It's an old SxS non-ejector and those really aren't doing awfully well at the moment (and haven't been now for some time). Without pictures, it's hard to tell but if perhaps it's in very good condition or has some nice wood that might be in it's favour. Looks to have been originally used for black powder only too, so again I don't know if it's proofed for modern cartridges or not (never mind steel enfieldspares ).

I might be totally wrong, but you'll not get much richer than you are by selling it. Perhaps it has some value to you as it belonged to your father and if that's the case, maybe consider keeping it , space permitting. Maybe worth just keeping it until your next big purchase, gun or rifle or whatever and the RFD might smile kindly on you and take it off you as a part exchange.

 

[sion]

Thank you for your replies gents.

On the subject of selling for a profit, that isn’t the point of my post. I thought someone might be interested as a collectors item rather than it being scrapped. It isn’t in particularly good condition and I believe has had new barrels, originals were brown or Damascus and these are blacked. The wood is quite nice so if I decide to scrap I will retain the woodwork.

It has no sentimental value. Simply old stock. My father wasn’t an rfd so it went on his ticket, I never knew him to do that hence my thoughts that it was a unique item.

I will attempt to get some pictures up but it sounds like I may as well hand it in.

Thanks again,
Sion.

 

[enfieldspares]

Catalogue Details

www.gavingardiner.com

They make reasonable, nay, in fact very good money. Lord! Don't "hand it in"! That's silly daft and throwing money down the drain.

 

[sion]

That is good money. Thank you.
I’ll try and attach photos of it’s condition as it is not even close to the one you have linked.
Sion.