Scotcher John Adam
Here is a
nice rifle with a very long barrel, pistol grip with a beautiful checkering on
the handle, so-called Mexican trigger, of a system not identified to date, with
a large button under the barrel, probably to unlock and advance the barrel, and
a side lever on the left to operate the side extractor. The rifle is marked
Scotcher Bury on the breech tail.
This is
in fact John Adam Scotcher, established in St Edmonds Bury in Suffolk (East of
England), active in his gunsmith's shop established at 17 Meat Market (currently
known as "The Traverse") from 1865 to 1912. It seems that there was already a
gunsmith's shop on this right before him. A Suffolk business directory from 1900
mentions "Scotcher and son, manufacturer of rifles, carbines and pistols,
inventor of the Invincible Cartridge". In 1912 the business was taken over by
Henry R. P. Hodgson, and then by his son-in-law H.D. Bennet from 1916 to 1953.
The store existed until the 1980s.
It is not
known at this time whether the system was patented or not.
GP
Thanks to
MD for the information provided.
