In keeping with the William Evans tradition, our sidelock game guns are hand-made using only the finest quality materials.

Manufacture starts with forgings of the chopperlump tubes which have been cut to size and bored out from high grade nickel chrome molybdenum steel.

The barrel marker then brazes the lumps together and flies and strikes up the barrels by hand and eye. Once the ribs have been laid and ‘tinned' the barrels are ready for jointing to the action

Painstaking work is undertaken by the actioner in the filing up to shape of the main body of the action and the making and fitting of the various components of the locks and ejector mechanism.

To ensure a perfect fit with the action, the breech end of the barrels are passed over a smoke lamp which leaves a fine carbon deposit. When the barrels are jointed with the action, marks show in the carbon thereby highlighting any imperfections of the fit. The actioner must then slowly and patiently work the steel by hand until the fit is faultless.

With the action and barrels jointed the gun is made ready for stocking. At this stage the gun is known as being ‘in the white' and is sent to the London Proof House for proofing. A blank of the finest seasoned walnut selected by the client is worked to receive the action and lockwork and shaped according to the client's measurements and specifications.

One of the unique aspects of a hand made gun is in its ‘balance' and it is at this point that, by adjusting the weight of the stock, the perfect balance for handling is achieved.

Work then starts on the action plates and body which are entirely engraved by hand. William Evans have traditionally used a bold foliate scroll engraving but other styles, such as Game Scene, Rose & Scroll or a client's own design may be commissioned.

It takes at least 200 hours for an engraver to complete a pair of guns and more time may be required depending on the intricacy and complexity of the design.

Once completed the action is then case hardened whilst the stocker chequers and oil finishes the stock and fore-end. Traditionally the actions are cased hardened in bone-meal to give a colour case hardened finish with hues of brown, blue, green and ‘straw'. Alternatively, the actions can be cyanide hardened which gives a bright ‘coin' finish. The choice is entirely the clients' preference.

In the final stages the barrels are blacked and the locks and ejector work regulated before the gun is finally assembled, ‘finished' and tested.

The gun is then ready for delivery to the client in its fitted case with hand-hand tools, cleaning accessories and oil bottle.

At each stage of development a William Evans gun is expertly and critically examined for quality and safety – thereby ensuring that only the very best in craftsmanship is received by the customer, and the Company's tradition of excellence is maintained.