Quote Originally Posted by ggggr View Post
Ive no axe to grind either John, but Im more inclined to agree with Ed's way of thinking. Sometimes mechanical things and development can be quite rough and crude. Ed probably know about this from earlier F1 days. 30 years ago, I think they were still strapping planks to the undersides of the cars as something to do with drag and down force?

I'd agree with what Ed says about the sear aduster screw. That is a basic fix that someone would attempt to save making a new sear if it wasnt holding. I wouldnt like to guess about the one on the trigger. Maybe that was originally fitted?
Why are the adjusters inside the housing? If you were making a gun that only you were going to use, you wouldnt need to hide the adjusters, but would want to be able to get to them for easy adjustment.

I still think a prototype would have simple wooden grips on rather than those metal plates. When I first saw pictures of the gun (on here years ago?) I thought it was a home made one, because of the plates.

Also, that probe still reminds me of a jet holder. Would you make something like that when something simpler to make could be used on a prototype?

Reguarding the barrel threads being 5/16 BSF (just wondering) are they BSF or BSB (brass) ------I know both are 26tpi but not sure of the difference.
I know that BSA used BSF on the piston rod on the Cadets and Majors.

Is that trigger shaped where is is brown or is it just corrosion?

I guess we will never know about the gun but it is a nice thing to own.


Just thinking----------Why would you have the trigger adjusters inside? Maybe a skilled person did make the gun for their son or grandson and set the trigger to a level that they considered safe?

https://i.imgur.com/WxftSdFl.jpg




Hi Guy,

Thanks for your welcome comments.

I think I answered your question already about the location of the adjuster screws, as putting them inside the grip is precisely what someone would do if they were not intending to use the gun, but it would be sensible if it was a prototype and the maker was only interested in experimenting and refining the trigger mechanism.

Concerning the 5/16 BSF muzzle thread, it is definitely BSF and not BSB, as the former has 22 tpi and the latter has 26 tpi.

As you say, the probe does look like a jet holder, but that does not mean to say that the maker used one for expediency. I am 100% sure he made it himself as the thread is 5/16 BSF, the same as the muzzle nut. What is the chance he found a jet holder lying around just the right size and with the same thread? Interestingly, the female breech plug idea turned up several years later in Argentina, with the Lucifer pop-out pistol of the 1970’s. I think the maker of the mystery pistol was a true inventor, ready to try out new ideas, and he did a good job making that plug, better than the commercial Lucifer plug shown below.




With regards to the grip plates, one interpretation about these was expressed by John Atkins, and I quote from him:
“I was very interested in your (very likely correct, I believe) theory about the mystery pistol with possible GAT connections. Some similarities seem too close to be coincidental. The fixed pivot pin to sear and muzzle nut threads, etc. I'd not realised the stock-sides were made of brass, thinking from photos., it was some sort of pale bakelite type sheet material. Not comfortable for prolonged use but fine for use on a prototype pistol knocking about on a workbench. I'm glad you found this pistol - otherwise it would not have been so carefully analysed.”

To answer your trigger question, the trigger is nicely shaped, and in fact the trigger and sear are as nicely finished as those on the real Gat.


Having heard all the comments as to why the mystery pistol is very unlikely to be a James Harrington prototype, I would like to turn things round, and ask you what you think a prototype of his ought to look like? I am curious

Cheers,
John