Harkom guns

[Eric Grims]

I wish I had one to show here but I am still saving and looking through my gun safe to see what I can trade to acquire a Joseph Harcom gun. I handled a beautiful box lock yesterday and have held a number of side locks over the past
few years. It is pretty much love at first sight. Can British guns give off pheromones or is it just the craftsmanship, engravings and balance that draws me in? J.H. guns are sooooo nice.
Anyone out there in the forum who shoots one? Got pictures?
Thanks

[Ed Blake]

If you look hard enough I bet you can find one just like it from another maker

[Dean Romig]

It's the pheromones, I guarantee it...






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[Eric Johanen]

G, I know exactly what you are feeling. A well built and finished English double is a joy to own and use. The way they are put together, finished and engraved puts other guns to shame. My Boss hammer gun was not a inexpensive purchase but it is a wonderful example of the gun maker's art and I got that wonderful engraving for free. I tend to get lost in it on occasion. I recently traded a beautiful Horton of Glasgow which I just could not shoot well for very nice W.J. Jeffery that shoots like it was made for me and has the finest finish and engraving I could want. Maybe there is something about pheromones that make theses guns so hard to resist.

[John Campbell]

... Can British guns give off pheromones or is it just the craftsmanship, engravings and balance that draws me in? J.H. guns are sooooo nice.


In a word, yes. A classic British double exudes a je ne sais quoi that seems impossible to resist. The top ones are in a class by themselves. That could be why I presently own about two dozen of them.

Harkom was a very good maker by the way...

[Ken Hill]

Harkom boxlocks have unique and distinctive shaping to make them more irresistible.

Ken

[John Campbell]

What Mr. Hill is referring to:

[Eric Johanen]

Those are outstanding examples of his work. The beading on the detonator's is beautiful! Fortunate is the man who owns that trio!

[Dean Romig]

The beading on the detonator's is beautiful.


Pardon my ignorance please - What is a "detonator"?





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[Rick Losey]

"Ball fences/Detonation - refers to the section around the top of the action body, the names originate from pin fire guns, Purdeys have been known to call this section the 'Detonation' as originally it would have housed the powder primed for detonation."

http://www.boxallandedmiston.co.uk/shotgun-anatomy/gun-terminology

[Dean Romig]

Very well then..... where is the "beading"? All I see is fine scrollwork on the "detonators".


Nevermind..... I see it now - the serpentine bead drawing both "detonators" into a single piece.







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[George Davis]

Several times a year in Tucson, AZ one of the shooters brings his matched pair of original cased 16 gauge Harkoms weighing under 6 pounds for several rounds of skeet. The guns are absolutely gorgeous and they draw lots of attention. They were purchased here in Arizona from Erickson and Erickson Gun Shop and they were on consignment from a gentlemen from the Kansas City area.
If you are in Patagonia, AZ in January at our annual get together they'll be on display.