UK HAW BC AA70R-1

Item number                           :          UK HAW BC AA70R-1

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 .” , “12” and the

carrier pigeon with envelope in her bill 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 green 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 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 2^nd and 3^rd  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.

The main difference with item no UK HAW BC AA70R is – apart from de colour – the carrier pigeon on the press lever. This carrier pigeon with the envelope in her bill is the brand mark of Hawksley and is rarely stamped on their tools.

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