A Fine Cased Sporting Match Percussion Rifle .451 by John Dickson & Son with Barrel by James McCririck Ayr. 50 ½” overall, 34” octagonal barrel.451 Whitworth rifled, top flat signed ‘James McCririck Ayr’, underside with Birmingham Proofs and numbered 52. Fore sight block fitted with a windage adjustable tunnel fore sight, ladder rear sight with platinum line to 600 yards, case hardened scroll engraved patent breech with platinum plug, case hardened scroll engraved tang with mounting block for rear aperture target sight, finely scroll engraved case hardened detented bolted lock engraved ‘John Dickson & Son’. Figured walnut half stock with chequered straight grip and fore end, scroll engraved iron mounts, trigger guard numbered 2065, dark horn fore end cap, silver shield escutcheon, original rear aperture target sight engraved ‘J.McCririck’. In a later lined and fitted full length oak case with pig skin covered rifle flask, small and large turn screw, rifle ‘T’ shaped nipple key and oil bottle.
Circa 1860
In very good condition, very good bore.
With John Dickson ledger entry.
Made by John Dickson & Son January 1860 as a 24 bore .577 rifle for Robert Shedden.
William McCririck established in 1800 I Irvine Ayr. James McCririck, born in 1813, trading as a gun maker in Sandgate Street, Ayr, in 1841. He was a specialist in rifles, the firm closed in 1992 having stayed in the family till 1967.
John Dickson & Son Est.1794 and still trading.Robert Shedden Patrick was born 27th August 1837 in Trearne House in Ayrshire. He was the son of Dr. John Shedden Patrick F.R.S.E. and Robina Jane Lee. Robert Shedden Patrick of Trearne and Hessilhead succeeded his father in 1844 on the death of his parents, he was only six years old and so was taken into legal guardianship by a family member, Robert William Cochran Patrick (who was also Dickson customer). Robert Shedden Patrick died 7th February 1866, aged 29.