Description
Item number : UK HAW BC AA70R
Origin : United Kingdom
Style : English Style
Gauge : 12
Suitable for pinfire : Yes
Stabilizer : Yes
Cartridge pusher : No
Maker : G. & J.W. HAWKSLEY Ltd, Carver Street, Sheffield
Markings : “G. & J.W. HAWKSLEY’S .” and “12” on press lever
Biggest length : 285 mm
Weight : 429 grams
Length of shell tube : 42 mm. (“short barrel”)
Suspension of press lever : Single
Press handle : Flat steel case hardened lever with long ebony handle.
Turning handle : Steel red japanned turning lever with ebony handle. Non-typical for Hawksley.
Closing cup : Brass
Materials body : Red painted cast iron
Paint : Retains almost all of its original red paint.
Table clamp : Top rectangular with 4 deep ribs. Screw top round without pins
Condition : Good
Repairs : None.
Remarks : .
The only written information available is from the (Cornell Publications) reprint of the Hawksley catalogue from 1889. This catalogue is not complete. There are tools that are not mentioned in this catalogue.
Unlike Dixon, Hawksley does not list the catalogue numbers on the tools themselves. It is therefore often a matter of guessing what the catalogue number of a tool is. I have done my very best to achieve some ranking.
Most of the Hawksley bench rest closers – apart from the A50 and (A)A44 models – have numbers with an (A)A70 in the number. Actually, the only exception is the A31C. That the tool with the Dixon no.5 press lever.
The best quality Hawksley tools have horn handles. The 2nd and 3rd quality tools have ebony handles. Quite often it is very difficult to tell the difference between ebony and horn. The kind of horn (buffalo?) Hawksley used is very dark; black. Just as ebony. If you have both materials in a pure form you can heat them and smell the difference. The handles of loading tools however are always a bit greasy. That means that you always get the same scent.
In the catalogue this tool is listed as:
“AA70R Short Barrel Turnover Japanned lever, Ebony Handles.
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