William Powell Monarch

This month we are looking at a traditional side by side by William Powell in one of my favourite bore sizes – 28. I am a great fan of the 28 bore, I think it particularly efficient on the ballistic front as well as offering the opportunity to make an aesthetically pleasing gun. I have two guns in this bore size myself – both have 30” barrels like the test gun (one is an EELL Beretta over and under, the other a Fausti side by side). The test gun here, meantime, a Monarch model, is part of the extensive Continental range and is made for the long established British firm of William Powell, by Arrieta of Spain.

First Impressions

On the initial inspection and handling of this bench made gun the impressions are sound. There is nothing flashy about the Monarch, on the contrary, it is restrained and very traditional. The true bone meal colour case hardened action looks good with 6 visible pins and a cocking indicator. The Rose and Scroll engraving conforms to the English ideal. The hand crafted, well figured stock is of classic straight-hand form and has nicely cut drop points as well as hand-cut chequering with neat diamonds and good borders. Barrels are 30” as noted (28” barrels are an option) and they equipped with a concave rib and fixed chokes (quarter three-quarters - which allows some margin for regulation). The gun weighs in at 6lbs. It’s a classic spec, and, you would be hard pressed to fault it, so I won’t bother!

O/U or S-by-S

Instead, and because I love to veer off the subject, I might use this opportunity to tell you that the side by side is, contrary to popular impression, the more modern design than the over and under. The stack-barrelled goes back to the earliest days of shooting, whereas the side by side first made its appearance in the early 1700s in France (about the same time as the flintlock was being developed there). According to my researches to date, the earliest English side by side was made by Griffin of Bond Street about 1750. Ironically, there was a great deal of prejudice against the early side by sides (just as two centuries later there would be for over and unders in some game shooting circles).
Meantime, the $64,000 question is whether or not the modern side by side (as perfected in the final quarter of the 19th century) is as good a gun as the over and under? Well, the OU has the advantage of a single sighting plane and tends to be easier to control in recoil. It is usually made a little heavier than the side by side and a may be a bit more mechanically complex. The side by side has simplicity of line and mechanism, and improved gape - opening for loading - on its plus side. It doesn’t manage recoil quite as well because there is a torque effect when fired. This is because the chambers are positioned either side of the central axis. Consequently, for most people, the side by side is just a little bit more difficult to use unless you grew up with it (as I did). Nevertheless, it retains a special charm.

Hand Engraving

OK back to the test. Our Monarch is built on the Holland pattern and has Southgate ejector work. The vast majority of Spanish made guns follow the same plan, though I have seen the odd Purdey copy coming out of Eibar. The Purdey Beesley design is not generally as popular because it is a more complex than the H&H and tends to be more difficult to regulate. Our Powell Arrietta has, however, Purdey (or Powell) style Rose and Scroll engraving which is well executed (notably by hand). Wood to metal fit is good too, as is the jointing of barrels to action. The barrels have 2 ¾” (70mm) chambers, are built on the chopper lump system, and bear Spanish proof marks. Chopper lump barrels are traditionally the favourite of the British gun trade, but are not always used on best guns. Many vintage guns have dovetail or through lumps and I have yet to see a Damascus barrelled gun that was chopper lump, though I am assured that they exist.
The stock on the Monarch is well conceived like those on most Arrieta’s but it also benefits from the input of William Powell who have been having guns made in Spain for decades (and these foreign built Powells have happily co-existed with their own bespoke products - one of which happens to be one of my favourite lightweight game guns). The grip is dainty, the comb and splinter forend nicely proportioned and notably not too thick. The length of Pull was 15”, drop was 1 ½” and 2”, and there was some slight right hand cast at heel and toe. No quibbles here, these are ideal standard measurements and suited me well.

Shooting Impressions

I shot this gun with a smile on my face – 28 bores have that effect on me! I used Lyalvale 21 gram cartridges and they smashed even rangy clays convincingly. Now, let’s not over egg the pudding, though, a 28 bore ‘has to be driven.’ Light guns are quick to start and quick to stop, so you must make sure that you keep the gun moving after you pull the trigger – that is the knack to them. Until you acquire it, you may tend to rush in front to a premature stop. Small bores are certainly not as forgiving to shoot as bigger, heavier guns, but they are lots of fun because of it.
The Monarch sits above the £2,975 Marquis and below the £6,250 Round bar Eclipse in the Powell line up. It is an excellent of its type and might traditionally have made an excellent lady’s gun (though my usual advice to women for game is a 20 bore Beretta Silver Pigeon). It is not over-priced by today’s standards and is nicely scaled on a dedicated action. It would be ideal on a partridge day, for walking up, and, not least, in a pigeon hide (where 28 bores have a lot to offer because they are so handy and because the cartridges do not take up much room and are easily carried).  I might end by noting that Powell’s can also supply sidlelock side by sides in various grades in all bore sizes from .410 up to 12.

PRICE: £4,950 inc VAT (including a handmade canvas and leather case).