RARE & UNIQUE ANTIQUE JAMES DIXON 6 DIAL 6 SPECIES GAME COUNTER IN 1883 CATALOG

Description: RARE & UNIQUE ANTIQUE JAMES DIXON 6 DIAL 6 SPECIES GAME COUNTER IN 1883 CATALOG UNIQUE & ULTRA RARE ANTIQUE 6 DIAL 6 SPECIES GAME COUNTER BY JAMES DIXON & SONS / SHEFFIELD ~ SHOWN IN 1883 CATALOGSEE PRICING BELOW James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield was founded in 1806 and were World leaders in manufacturing shooting accessories though the 19th century with locations in London and Melbourne Australia. The firm’s trademark of a trumpet with a hanging banner was registered in 1879. James Dixon & Sons left an indelible mark on the world of metal craftsmanship and design, and their legacy endures in the realm of collectibles and historical artifacts. Note that below is an overview of an edited version of the excellent article the “Game Counters, alias “Norfolk Liars” that was written and posted online by Andrew Losson on Sept. 9, 2020, that is merged my item descriptions and comments. Full and deserved credit is hereby given for his informative article of this previously obscure area of Antique Game Counters and their importance in the Sport of Hunting and Firearms Accoutrement collecting. Gun implement manufacturers were always keen to produce new products to satisfy the Victorian Sportsman and recognizing this new demand began to produce a range of small pocket-sized counters to enable a game score to be kept. Often times the shooter would have an assistant to load their firearms and would probably have also recorded killed game using one of the new-fangled counters that were called markers in James Dixon’s 1883 catalogue. Some manufacturers recognized that the loader using the counter may not be literate, so some made dials from different colored metals so it could visually be identified without the need to read the species stamped on the dial. Some sportsmen had an over optimistic view of the number of birds they actually hit and on occasion may instruct their loader to record near misses when they were “confident” the bird would eventually drop, hence the nickname for these game markers of “Norfolk Liar”; the nickname probably used because there were some large sporting estates in Norfolk County. Each dial of these counters operated on an internal spring and ratchet that clicked from number to number only one way, in a clockwise direction. The most commonly encountered game counter is a four dial 2 on each side counter had dials marked for pheasants, partridges, hares, and rabbits. The sportsman that thought he would be shooting a wider variety of game would need a six-dial counter and both James Dixon & Sons filled this need. The 6 “kinds”, 3 on each side “markers” were also afforded the option to customize their piece with other species such as snipe, woodcock, blackgame and grouse. Note: on page 47 of the 1883 Dixon catalog shows a drawing of this exact model 819D and below the price list for British Plate (Nickle Silver) is the exact model as “6 kinds (dials), 3 on each side” listed as the most expensive of this pattern. The models priced the 819D model are for the exceedingly rare game counter with a percussion capping mechanism. In the James Dixon 1883 catalogue they offered the model 819B (B for British Plate a.k.a. nickel silver) six kinds 3 on each size counter at a wholesale cost of 14 shillings each. This was nearly twice the cost of the 4 kinds 2 on each side model 819B, which accounts for the lack of popularity and today’s extreme rarity. During the second half of the 19th Century, more birds were reared and released into the woods in time for the game season. Game shooting on many of the larger estates moved from walked up shooting using hunting dogs with modest amounts of game bagged, to driven shooting where a line of beaters was used to push the game towards standing hunters with guns. As a result of this, the number of bagged games became larger, the shooting became more competitive, and there developed a desire among sportsmen to keep a score of the number of games they shot. As the 19th Century was nearing its end, driven game shoots became much larger with vast quantities of pheasant and partridge being shot and the standard 4 dial game counters became inadequate as they were limited to 4 types of species shot and usually had only 0-30 dials. These larger game shoots generated a demand for shot counters which could handle much bigger numbers. Note that the example of a Dixon “6 dial, 3 on each side” model 819D at the bottom of Dixons 1883 catalog on page 47 has markings of 0 to 30 counts for each of the 6 categories of Pheasants, Hares, Partridges, Rabbits, Snipe, and Woodcocks. Also note that THESE 6 dials 6 different kinds of Dixon game counter includes Pheasants, Grouse, Partridge, Rabbits, Woodcock, and Hares, also has the typical 0-30 quantity for Partridges and Hares; however, have ADDED 30 - 60 quantities for Grouse and Woodcock and ADDED 60-90 quantities for Pheasants and Grouse. In each of the newly marked 4 dials, the old 0-30 quantities were blocked out and new, improved quantities were stamped on the outside perimeters denoting the new 30 - 80 quantities or the 60 - 90 quantities. Also, note the for sale 6 game counter all the names of the same 5 different game birds appearing on the 6-game counter Also note that all 6 game bird names now have a parallel background with the new names over stamped, en suite with the 4 old inside stamped numbers are now over stamped circles with new numerals stamped on the outside parameters, with remnants of some of the original numbers visible. Also note the additional stamping of “Pheasants afternoon” and “Hares afternoon” stampings on both sides, suggesting larger, all day hunting excursions. Although Dixon offered many variations of their game markers, including a 60-count model in the 1883 catalog, it is clear they could foresee the need for higher marked counters along with the need for varied types of different game birds for the changing hunting conditions and greater quantities of game birds being hunted. The Dixon catalogue of 1883 also offered a press button operated counter which they advertise as being able to be used unseen in the pocket but can only count up to 60. Dixon recognized need for higher game numbers along with the same size and style italic style block lettering as other Dixon counters combined with the interesting and fancy form of high-quality modification, suggests this conversion may have been done by Dixon as a custom order. This extremely rare Dixon & Sons pocket Hunting Game Counter was carried in the field to record a running tally of the day's game kills by well-to-do Sporting Gents and wealthy patrons who enjoyed hunting, and had the means to own hunting dogs, long firearms, hunting accouterments, and an estate or place to hunt. There are different styles, shapes, and number of dials to antique game counters. This piece has 6 ratcheted dials, 3 on each side. The frame is 3 7/8" long (including ring) x 1 5/16" wide x 5/16" thick, and 3/4 “tall when resting on the dials. The body is made in 3 layers of nickel silver and has genuine naturally occurring aged patina with a gray coloration and dark patina in protected areas. This was designed to hang around the neck, and a correct leather replacement lanyard is included. Total weight as shown is 4.5 ounces or 129 grams. I have searched “6 dial Dixon game counter” on the internet and have only found (2) examples of this same rare J. Dixon & Sons 6 dial 6 different game bird counter that were sold at auction that had prices realized (below). 1.) Sold by Bonhams Auction House, London, Knightsbridge on July 29th, 2009. Estimate was 1,500 GBPS, sold for 3,200 GBPS or $3348 USD or = $4843 USD in 2024. 2.) Sold by Invaluable Auction House lot 1040 on Sept. 8, 2020. Estimate was $ 1,500 GBPS TO 2,000 GBPS. Sold for 3,200 GBPS or = $4,872 USD in 2024. This 140-year-old 6 dial game counter was a utilitarian object that was designed for heavy duty use. The dial markings were hand engraved to accommodate large Estate hunts and allow recording of 30 to 90 birds per hunt, per dial. With up to 6 dials used per hunt, times many hunts per season, and used for decades, this piece saw prolonged use in the field with and exposure to moisture. These counters have a simple mechanism inside consisting of 6 wheels that with 4 springs. This piece has been Professionally disassembled, had the internal mechanism cleaned of corrosion, all the gears greased, tested, and all 6 dials work properly. Each dial of the counter operates separately with an internal spring and one way ratchet that clicks and turns the dial only a tiny fraction of an inch when turned clockwise only to click and record an additional bird. Thus, it would take dozens of clicks for one complete rotation of any dial. Therefore, it is only necessary to turn any dial more than a click or two to demonstrate it is working properly and avoid unnecessary wear the internal 6 dial mechanisms that have already served a long and satisfactory service. This is a unique opportunity and a must have for an advanced game counter collector, for a cased gun set, hunter, sportsman, 19th century accoutrement or smalls collector and would make an unusual gift, desk top paper weight and conversation piece. PAYMENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAYPAL & ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, e-CHECKS & ALL MAJOR CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS, APPLE PAY, GOOGLE PAY AND ALL OTHER PAYMENT METHODS APROVED BUY EBAY. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SHIPPING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING FOR DOMESTIC BUYERS & TO THE EBAY U.S.A. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CENTER. FOR USA PURCHASES, SHIPPING, HANDLING & DELIVERY IS FREE VIA U.S.P.S. FIRST CLASS MAIL (UP TO 16 OZ.) OR U.S.P.S. 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Price: 2675 USD

Location: Fairfield, California

End Time: 2024-09-26T00:39:02.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD