UK HAW BC A70LS

Item number                           :           UK HAW BC A70LS

Origin                                     :           United Kingdom

Style                                       :           English Style

Gauge                                     :           12

Suitable for pinfire                 :           Yes

Stabilizer                                 :          Yes

Cartridge pusher                    :           Yes. Replaced by a Dixon copy

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

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

Biggest length                        :           300 mm

Weight                                   :           637 grams

Length of shell tube               :           62 mm. (“full barrel”)

Suspension of press lever       :           Single

Press handle                           :           Flat steel lever with ebony handle. The complete tool has been glass blasted. So there no blue or case hardening left

Turning handle                       :           Steel turning lever with ebony handle

Closing cup                            :           Steel

Materials body                       :           Brass

Paint                                       :           Because of the glass blasting there is no paint left.

Table clamp                            :          Top rectangular with 3 deep ribs.  Screw top round without pins.

Condition                               :           Reasonable

Repairs                                   :           None

Remarks                                 :          Cartridge pusher has been replaced by a Dixon replica

 

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.

 

The 1889 catalogue describes the A70LS  as follows:

A70LH Full Barrel Turnover, Horn handles, case hardened lever and disc, pusher out, superior quality

“A70LS Do.           do.   Steel disc en ebony handles”

 

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