UK HAW BC A31C

Item number                           :          UK HAW BC A31C

Origin                                     :           United Kingdom

Style                                       :           English Style

Gauge                                     :           12

Suitable for pinfire                 :           Yes

Stabilizer                                 :          No

Cartridge pusher                    :          yes

Maker                                     :           G. & J.W. HAWKSLEY Ltd, Carver Street, Sheffield

Markings                                :           “G. & J.W. HAWKSLEY’S .” and “12” on press lever

Biggest length                        :           270 mm

Weight                                   :            504 grams

Length of shell tube               :           61 mm. (“This time named: Long barrel”)

Suspension of press lever       :           Single

Press handle                           :          Flat steel blued lever with  ebony handle. This is the no. 5 Dixon model press lever.

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 clover shaped with only 2 sharp pins in stead  of 3.  There hasn’t been a 3rd pin. 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 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:

“A31C Long Barrel Turnover. Blued lever, Ebony handles”

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