quote:

“a fine and exceptionally rare 16-bore 1882 patent three-barrelled sidelever round-action ejector, serial no. 4415 with 28in. replacement side-by-side-by-side nitro barrels (by the makers), ribs engraved ‘JOHN DICKSON & SON. PATENT. 32, HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH.’, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 choke (centre barrel, first trigger), 3/4 choke (right barrel, second trigger) and imp. cyl. (left barrel, third trigger), J. Dickson and A.G. Murray patent action, patent no. 873 of 23rd February 1882, use number 343, sidelever-opening, automatic safety with gold-inlaid ‘SAFE’ detail, gold-cocking-indicators, three triggers, the forward and centre trigger articulated, bowed triggerguard shaped at the rear to form a finger rest, fully engraved with fine acanthus scrollwork, ‘JOHN DICKSON & SON’ and ‘PATENT’ engraved within ribbon cartouches, retaining traces of original colour-hardening, 14 3/8in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock including buttplate, gold escutcheon engraved with the Clan Hope crest, with slight crack at hand and two small circular knot plugs, horn pistolgrip-cap, bolstered fore-end with horn finial and Deeley & Edge patent release catch, weight 7lb., in its fitted leather case with gold-tooled Dickson label.

The makers have kindly confirmed that the gun was completed on April 18th 1891 for John Adrian Louis Hope. The records state the gun to be a ‘three barrelled patent ejector, 16-bore hammerless gun, pistol hand, No. 4415 (343) with 28in. damascus barrels. Designed by John Dickson the younger (gunmaker) and co-patented with Andrew Graham Murray (advocate), the first example was made for Mr Murray in 1882.


John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC (25 September 1860 – 29 February 1908), also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was the first Governor-General of Australia.

Educated first at Eton, then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Houptoun decided not to join the Army on graduation, instead he chose to manage the family estates and pursue a life of leisure. He became Conservative Whip in the House of Lords 1883, and served as Lord in Waiting. Having been appointed Governor of Victoria in 1889, due to his popularity in this role and good relations with leading Australian politicians, he was made first Governor-General in July 1900.

His tenure was not a terribly successful one, he proved himself unpopular with leading federalist politicians by appointing Sir William Lyne as interim Prime Minister, a man who was opposed to the federalisation of Australia. His official Secretary also provoked ire, as the Australians resented an Englishman being in charge of official business, and they resented the pomp, and associated expense, with which Hopetoun insisted in carrying out his role.

Hopetoun resigned suddenly in May 1902, after a row over expenses with the Australian government.

The Hope family can be traced as far back as the 13th Century, and the name can be found on the ‘Ragman Rolls’. The motto ‘at spes infracta’ is translated as ‘yet my hope is unbroken’, and is represented in the Clan crest of a bisected globe surmounted by a rainbow.”