The Raven Gun shotgun, 1985 (steel & walnut)

(XII.5483) Cased centrefire breech-loading double-barrelled shotgun named 'The Raven Gun', Glasgow, Scotland, 1985. Hammerless ejector gun with Dickson round action commissioned in October 1984 from David McKay Brown of 32 Hamilton Rd. Bothwell. McKay was apprenticed to Alex Martin of Glasgow in 1957 and later established his own business near Glasgow. 27” ‘chopper lump’ barrels of blacked Sheffield steel with 2 ¾” chambers and a silver bead foresight. The metalwork is blued and blue-black case-hardened, and the stock is of chequered French walnut. Decorated with detailed engraving of raven’s feathers. Head-feathers cover the action, eye plumage is used on the breeches, the trigger guard has overlapping feather decoration, and even the top lever and sliding safety are feathered, including a single golden feather and representation of the Tower itself, also in gold. The tang is engraved ‘ARMOURIES’. This unique decoration was applied by noted artist and engraver Malcolm Appleby of Crathes, a graduate of the Royal College of Art who has specialised in firearm decoration but whose other work can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum and National Museum of Scotland. Appleby made preliminary drawings from a taxidermied raven specimen provided by the University of Aberdeen and the final designs were approved by the Armouries. Finished gun presented 1986. The designs are based on the theme of Ravens, especially the feathers. For the designs see I.246 a-g