Ejectors are overrated, especially in a double for upland hunting. I spend a lot of time chasing grouse and woodcock, and I’ve never needed more than two shots. Being able to reload my shotgun quickly has never been an issue.
I have had ejectors break, which lead to a pricey repair bill. Today I own a 12 gauge boxlock that had ejectors — before I my gunsmith deactivated them. The shotgun works just find, and I don’t notice the difference.
That little diversions lead me to this side-by-side shotgun. It’s a basic British boxlock with extractors, made in Birmingham and then retailed by the firm E. Gale & Son. Built on Anson & Deeley actions, shotguns like this are as solid and reliable a double as you’ll find. This one looks pretty new — and it’s a 16 gauge. Those two things make it rare for a 60+ year old British SxS.
Here’s more about it from the seller:
GALE & SON 16 ENGLISH A&D BOXLOCK- VERY NICE COND- 6 Lbs. 4 Oz.- 70% ORIG CASE COLORS- WALL THICKNESS at .037: #22425, E. Gale & Son Ltd, Barnstaple: A very nice English late Pre-WW II or Early Post War Boxlock Extractor 16 Bore Game Gun Made between 1925 & 1950, 27″ Extractor Dovetail Lump Barrels, The versatile Anson & Deeley action, Original Birmingham Proof at 1 ounce & 2 1/2″ chambers, The bores at .661 .001 & .031″ (Cyl. & Full), 2 1/2″ chambers, Great Wall thickness at .038″ on the right & .037″ on the left, Double triggers, Splinter forend with a snap release, Straight hand stock at 14 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/4″ over a checkered butt, Cast-Off for the right hand, Game gun weight of 6 lbs. 4 oz., Fairly nice wood, Very nice border engraving.
It retains an honest 70% original case colors, Original barrel blue at 88%, The wood absolutely appears with original finish and remains at 90%, The checkering is at 97%, The bores are absolute excellent plus condition and have the correct & original bore size, The barrels outside are excellent plus, The barrels ring with a great chime, It is tight on the face with excellent bite left. This is an honest and nice handling late Pre-War British boxlock that remains in very nice condition. This piece has a lot of life left in it.
Gale was established in 1869 on 6 Joy Street in Barnstaple in Devonshire. It was started by George Gale and in 1906 it had changed to Edward Gale. In the 1930’s they got involved in the fishing business as well and were still around up to 1988. I have read that Edward Gale trained at Purdey and also read that Gale sold many guns over the years and were Barnstaple’s last gunmaker. Price: $2,950
