UK HAW BC A70NPG

Item number                           :          UK HAW BC A70NPG

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                        :           275 mm

Weight                                   :          479 grams

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

Suspension of press lever       :           Single

Press handle                           :          Round steel case hardened lever with long ebony handle. Handle is non-typical for Hawksley. I am not sure about the originality.

Turning handle                       :           Steel case hardened turning lever with ebony handle. Non-typical for Hawksley. Not sure about the originality.

Closing cup                            :           Brass

Materials body                       :           Nickle plated brass

Paint                                       :          N.A.

Table clamp                            :          Top oval shaped squared.  Screw is nickle plated brass brass. Screw top round without pins

Condition                               :           Good

Repairs                                   :           None. Maybe replacement of handles.

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, Ebony Handles, pusher out , second quality”

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

Despite the listing there is no pusher out. But there is no other nickel plated turnover tool without a pusher out.

.

.