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Lincoln Jubilee Prestige

Lincoln Jubilee Prestige

According to David Nickerson, the fact that it only says Lincoln along the right – hand side of the top chamber makes this Jubilee Prestige somewhat unusual. Now marketed under the FAIR banner or Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini over in Marcheno, Italy, the only connection any Lincoln has with the city of the same name is that their imported by David Nickerson who happens to be based there. Likewise, the FAIR name now allows all the various models to be more purpose specifically marketed than before. As the full range is most comprehensive!

Now as some of you may know, although my shotguns come and go, the one I’ve never been tempted to part with is my old Lincoln game gun. This venerable old 12 – bore is still used at least twice during each season, only having let me down once in its thirty year history when a firing pin broke. That aside, I’ve always regarded it and all other Lincolns as some of the best and most affordable all-rounders out there and its not only me that thinks so, as numerous friends are confirmed Lincoln aficionados.

Where this gun differs slightly from what’s gone before is that this time the design has gone upmarket, if only in the looks department. Built around the now familiar boxlock action typical of Italy’s Val Trompia region, it will be familiar to all Lincoln owners. What the Jubilee Prestige brings to the party is gold inlays, colour case-hardened sideplates and a rounded semi-pistol grip, all-in for £1,495.

Stub Pins

Pivoting on stub pins located within the receiver the Jubilee’s 28” barrels lock into position by a full width bolt that engages the two small lumps underneath, which is a simple but strong action. Add to this 3” chambers, multi-chokes and a stub brass bead and 7mm cross-cut top rib, with colour-case hardened sideplates completing the look. Decoration consists of gold inlays, with a partridge on the right, a setter and pheasant to the left, a spaniel to the floor along with a woodcock on the trigger guard and a crown on the top lever.

However, whilst all this looks well and good, especially when equated to the asking price, the detailing of the inlays only becomes apparent under closer scrutiny, the animal life looking more like silhouettes from a distance. This doesn’t mean the relief is nonexistent it’s just that the inlays are flush to the action’s surfaces, which like the complimentary scroll work, means the etching has hardly any depth or definition. Nonetheless, it’s still a rich looking action that elevates the Jubilee above its competition, particularly when mated to the well grained, well fitted furniture.

The cast on the test gun is more than likely to agree with most right-handers shooters.
With a length of pull of 14 7/16”, and a drop at comb and heel of 1½” and 2 5/8” respectively, the lightly varnished rounded pistol grip stock will suit most shooters. Although in true game gun fashion the butt plate is wood, so some may find they need to add a slip-on recoil pad if an intensive day’s shooting is expected. Moving forward, a slightly meatier Schnable forend and push-button latch both lock the Jubilee together. The chequering is fine and well applied and the wood is comfortable to hold whilst providing good purchase, even to damp hands.   

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Over the Top

Keeping to my now familiar routine of starting off with 50 of Coniston SG’s skeet birds, the one rather unusual trait of the Jubilee quickly made itself apparent, even with the two widest chokes fitted. For what is a traditional O/U game gun, it shot remarkably high. Admittedly, most O/U 12 bores tend to place the majority of their pattern above what could be referred to as point of aim. But to have cleanly missed two low-house birds from the first station gave me cause for concern. A comment of ‘you’re over them’ from a regular shooting companion resulted in my starting to shoot the Lincoln in a style more in keeping with an American semi-automatic, namely a sight picture that saw more daylight between muzzle and target.

Weighing in at 7lbs 4oz, although the Lincoln balances an inch in front of the hinge pins, the bulk of this 12 bore’s mass feels further towards the centre of the forend. What this means when shooting is that from a right-hander’s point of view, the left or forward hand tends to do the bulk of the work when it comes to directing the muzzles. Likewise, the Jubilee’s mass distribution tends to smooth out the swing, no bad thing for those who tend to snatch or swing to far through.

Express Yourself

Loaded with 28g Express Supreme Competition, the Jubilee performed exactly as expected. However, with 32g Super Game it proved its worth, once again highlighting its game orientation. Choked ¼ and ½, a restriction I’d recommend for most game shooting situations, the Jubilee was quick to mount and smooth to swing, whilst the high shot placement meant a good view of the target over the muzzles was always available. Likewise the 6lbs 5oz trigger pull ensured that the smooth, gold-plated blade always demonstrated a crisp, predictable break on both barrels.

Given the Jubilee’s slightly high shooting characteristics, something that proved its worth on Coniston’s ESP and Compak layouts, I’d be more than happy to recommend the Lincoln to anyone starting out or a dedicated rough shooter. The gun’s well balanced feel and smooth handling characteristics ideally suit it to what I refer to as ‘snap’ shooting where the unexpected pheasant, partridge or rabbit suddenly presents itself. Conversely, with tighter chokes such as ¾ and Full, the Jubilee would more than help the inexperienced driven shooter, this shotgun’s traits adding the additional lead many people tend to forget as they underestimate the speed and height of well presented birds.

Pound for pound, gun choice in the £1,500 sector is good, so the Lincoln Jubilee Prestige up against some serious competition. What I would say is, give one a try. If it suits you, you’ll find yourself the owner of one of the most reliable, dependable and -in the Jubilee Prestige’s case - more elegant 12 bores you’ll ever own.

Thanks to:
Coniston Shooting Grounds, www.conistonshootingground.co.uk
Lyalvale Express, www.lyalvaleexpress.com.

PRICE: £1,495

  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

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  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

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  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

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  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

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  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Lincoln Jubilee Prestige - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Name: Lincoln Jubilee Prestige
  • Type: Over & Under
  • Calibre: 12-bore
  • Barrel: 28” M/C
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