Cogswell & Harrison Certus
Cogswell & Harrison Ltd · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1903
Also known as: Certus 12-bore, Cogswell & Harrison Certus Shotgun
Overview
The Cogswell & Harrison Certus is a British single-barrel, bolt-action shotgun chambered in 12 gauge, built on the firm's distinctive Certus turning-bolt action patented by Edgar Harrison in March 1900. Unlike Mauser- or Lee-pattern designs, the Certus action used a short rotating bolt with twin front locking lugs carried in a reciprocating slide rather than a bolt fully enclosed by a receiver. Introduced around 1903 by the long-established London gunmaker Cogswell & Harrison, the Certus name was applied across a family of rimfire, centre-fire and full-bore rifles as well as this 12-bore shotgun, and production largely ceased with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3200 g (112.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1150 mm (45.28") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2560 J (1888 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Turning Bolt Action, Front Locking Lugs, Single Barrel, Self Cocking
Service history
Operators
- Civilian sporting and rifle-club shooters
Production
Production years: 1903-1914
Made in small numbers; the Certus action saw peak production around 1906-1907 across its rifle and shotgun forms before WWI ended manufacture.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Edgar Harrison
Discontinued: 1914
Notes
The Certus name began as Cogswell & Harrison's telegraphic code-word and by the 1920s had become a general trade name for the firm rather than a single model. The 12-bore shotgun variant was a single-shot bolt gun built on the same turning-bolt action as the Certus rifles.
Background
Cogswell & Harrison, one of London's oldest gunmaking houses tracing its roots to 1770, named the Certus after its own telegraphic code-word, Latin for 'certain' or 'sure'. The firm revived the Certus name in 2024 for a modern bolt-action rimfire rifle.