F E Boyd & P S Tyler Spindle Breech 10 GA SXS Hammer Double Shotgun Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,125.00
WOA#: WY240611RD006
Make: F. E. Boyd & P.S. Tyler
Model: Spindle Breech Hammer Double Shotgun
Serial Number: Various parts are marked with “LS”, “537” and “LS 537 X”.
Year of Manufacture: 1868-1870s
Gauge: 10 Gauge, Black Powder only
Action Type: Side by Side, Spindle Breech, Back-Action, Dual Trigger Shotgun with Manual Extractors
Barrel Length: 30″
Choke: Both bores are approximately Improved Modified, Fixed.
Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead at the front of the rib.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece checkered walnut with straight wrist, straight comb and smooth steel buttplate. The forend has an inlaid triangular horn tip. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14″ and 13 1/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light-moderate patina with some wear and erosion. The drop at comb is approximately 1 3/4″, drop at heel 3″. Overall, the stocks are in Fine-plus condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Damascus & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are mostly bright. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bores. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges and there is some scattered muting, mostly around edges. There is handling wear in the guard. There are some minor nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in Fine-Excellent condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Please note, the hammers must be placed at the safety notch to allow the firing pins to retract in order to open the action. The action locks up with barely perceptible play. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is a very interesting double gun from F.E. Boyd & P.S. Tyler. It is unfortunate that we were not able to find too much information about this firm as their shotgun is quite unorthodox. Of course, in the 1860s there wasn’t much of an orthodoxy to breech-loading double guns, they were still being invented! While we now know that a hinged barrel set is ideal and that hammerless guns would become the dominant design, at this time inventors were trying just about anything that would work (and surely there were some that didn’t work at all). Boyd & Tyler came up with a “spindle-breech” action, wherein the entire barrel set rotates on a spindle mounted to the standing breech. This could be rotated to each side just enough to extract and replace one fired shell or rotated all the way for simultaneous extraction.
This example is in quite outstanding condition for its age and is a fascinating piece. It will definitely stand out in a collection of early breech-loading doubles. Please see our pictures and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
