John Dickson Round Action
John Dickson & Son · Shotgun · In Production · 1880
Also known as: Dickson Round Action, J. Dickson Round Action, Dickson Round-Action Ejector
Overview
The John Dickson Round Action is a best-quality British side-by-side shotgun introduced in Edinburgh in 1880. Its defining feature is a uniquely Scottish trigger-plate (round) action, in which the locks, mainsprings, and sears are mounted on the trigger plate itself, allowing the action body to be slimmed and rounded for exceptional balance and elegance. Most examples are 12-bore side-by-side game guns with automatic ejectors, double triggers, and Damascus or steel barrels, prized by sporting shooters for their light handling, strength, and craftsmanship.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2950 g (104.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1145 mm (45.08") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2560 J (1888 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Color Case Hardened |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Action Barrels
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Trigger Plate Action, Rounded Action Body, Automatic Ejectors, Assisted Opening, Rose And Scroll Engraving, Best Quality Walnut Stock, Side By Side Barrels
Service history
Operators
- Sporting and game shooters
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,940 · Production years: 1880-present
Total round-action production stands at roughly 1,940 guns, of which about fifteen are rifles. The first round action was delivered in April 1880. The mechanism derives from James MacNaughton's 1879 trigger-plate patent.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: John Dickson (III)
Notes
Built almost entirely by hand to order; barrel length, choke, and configuration vary by individual commission. Often chambered for 2.5 inch (65mm) shells on older examples and 2.75 inch (70mm) on modern builds. Production is extremely limited, with each gun individually numbered.
Background
The round action traces to James MacNaughton, an Edinburgh gunmaker who had apprenticed at John Dickson & Son in the 1850s and who built a trigger-plate gun in 1879 inspired by a design from German-born gunsmith Julius Coster. John Dickson & Son created its own version in 1880, calling it the round action, and it has remained synonymous with the firm ever since as the quintessential Scottish best gun.