William Evans "St James" O/U shotgun

Manufactured from the highest-quality components, the St. James is based on Perazzi’s MX12, MX16 and MX20 actions, the designation denoting whether it is a 12-bore, 16-bore or 20-bore.

In standard form, the St James is set up as a game gun but its design incorporates a high bespoke element, so clients can configure it to their personal tastes and requirements. Amongst the elements which can be personalised are the design of the stock, grip and fore-end, barrel length, rib style and chokes, which are fixed as standard although interchangeable Teague chokes are available.

The action used in the St James is a development of Perazzi’s original detachable-lock MX8 which was originally created for the 1968 Olympic clay pigeon shooting events and has gone on to win more Olympic medals than any other shotgun in history. The new model’s strong, low-profile action has non-detachable locks which enable a thinner, stronger grip to be used, a particularly useful feature in a shotgun used extensively for game shooting. 

Equipped with a single, selective trigger, the St. James can be specified with 28" or 30" or 32" barrels which can be used with steel shot (provided that half choke or less is specified/used), are proofed to ‘Superior’ standards (1200kg) and have 3" chambers to allow heavy-load cartridges to be used.

As standard, the barrels incorporate a 7mm game-style rib and fixed chokes to the client’s specification, but other rib styles and Teague multi-chokes can be specified to make the gun more versatile and enable it to be used for any quarry, from driven grouse to high pheasants.

Weighing from 7½lb in 20-bore form,the St James is fitted with an oil-finished Turkish Walnut stock and in keeping with the high bespoke content of this model clients have the option of specifying it their own measurements. Standard features include a traditional Prince of Wales grip, a gold oval onto which the owner’s initials or family crest can be engraved, an English-style trigger guard and a classic rounded fore-end. 

The specification also includes an adaptation of William Evans traditional scroll engraving, which is based on a pattern that we designed for a pair of shotguns made for the Duke of Connaught circa 1910. A leather case is optional.

The first of the new St. James models to be manufactured was a 32" barrelled version weighing 8lb 3oz. Designed for sporting clays and high game birds, it featured three-quarter chokes in both barrels and a solid rib which tapered from 11mm wide at the breech to 7mm at the muzzle, with a traditional metal bead sight. The specification also included a well figured 15″ stock, a rounded fore-end and round semi-pistol grip.