UK HAW BC A70NP

Item number                           :          UK HAW BC A70NP

Origin                                     :           United Kingdom

Style                                       :           English Style

Gauge                                     :           12

Suitable for pinfire                 :           Yes

Stabilizer                                 :          Yes

Cartridge pusher                    :           yes but fails

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

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

Biggest length                        :           290 mm

Weight                                   :          527 grams

Length of shell tube               :           42 mm. (“short barrel”)

Suspension of press lever       :           Single

Press handle                           :          Flat steel case hardened lever with dark horn handle.

Turning handle                       :           Steel case hardened turning lever with dark horn handle

Closing cup                            :           Brass

Materials body                       :           Nickle plated brass

Paint                                       :          N.A.

Table clamp                            :          Top oval shaped with 4 deep ribs.  Screw is nickle plated brass brass. Screw top round without pins

Condition                               :           Reasonable

Repairs                                   :           None. Pusher out fails.

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:

“A70NP Short Barrel Turnover Nickel-Plated , case hardened lever, Horn Handles, pusher out , first quality”

I am not sure about the horn handles, what makes the difference between ther A70NP and the A70NPG

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