Vintage British Doubles

[CJNJ]

Beautiful guns

 

[CJNJ]

My Hellis and sons. It’s a 3rd tier maker that made top tier quality guns. View attachment 715060View attachment 715061View attachment 715059View attachment 715058

Yours makes me very anxious for mine to come in. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I think I’m taking my Westley Richards 20 gauge and AYA number 2 to grouse camp the 2nd of October

And 2 fly rods

 

[zephyr]

A couple of 19th Century British guns
Side Lever 16b Purdy 1895

Alfred Lancaster 12b 1885 Nitro Proof Damascus

 

[Altitude sickness]

Two side levers on one thread.

 

[Russ16]

Two side levers on one thread.

If anyone wants a grant side lever there is a nice shooter with a little finish wear but good mechanics at Albright’s in Easton Maryland.

 

[CJNJ]

I think I’m taking my Westley Richards 20 gauge and AYA number 2 to grouse camp the 2nd of October

And 2 fly rods

Classic

 

[8 x 60]

Armstrong. Newcastle;

 

[8 x 60]

Carr Bros. Huddersfield;

Sorry Picture refuses to load.. I gave up after 5 attempts!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Living in a former British colony, I get to see a lot of vintage English side by sides (albeit more often than not, in deplorable condition).

Here are some of the best ones I’ve photographed over the years.

12 gauge (3” Magnum) built by Midland Gun Co. for Lyon & Lyon

12 gauge (2.5”) R.B Rodda & Co. “Improved Paragon” Ball & Shot Gun

12 gauge (2.5”) Alex Martin boxlock ejector

12 gauge (2.75”) Webley & Scott Model 700 (the last British commercially manufactured side by side)

12 gauge (3.25”) Isaac Hollis & Sons sidelock non ejector

12 gauge (3” Magnum) Birmingham Small Arms Model Wildfowler

12 gauge (3” Magnum) W.W Greener Model Empire (one of the last ones built in 1965 when Webley & Scott took over the company which is why it features an automatic top safety instead of W.W Greener’s trademark manual side safety)

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Here is my favorite shotgun. Charles Lancaster side lever hammer gun. I don't recall if it is 1883 or 1889. I would have to check my records to confirm. I let all my other SxS go after falling in love with this one.

Safe hunting

 

[Altitude sickness]

wow !

 

[8 x 60]

Salter & Varge London (most likely made by Midland Gun Company)

 

[Altitude sickness]

@Russ16, that Grants side lever at Albrights is long gone. It sold last week.

 

[8 x 60]

Re Post # 28
This was one of a pair originally owned by the grandfather of one of my oldest friends. The other one was leant to someone back in the mists of time and never returned. My friend gave up shooting a few years ago and wanted me to have it. He felt it only fair as he had shot me with it way back when we were teenagers! (A few pellets in my leg whilst shooting a low bird)

 

[Altitude sickness]

8x60 Robert Churchill would say your shotguns grip is properly designed and built. Many are not.

When reading the Robert Churchill book I learned of a mandatory design feature he required.

Forward of the wrist needed to taper or cone to be thicker as it went forward. Many SxS shotguns are either the same width or get thinner towards the front. This causes the Double rifle or SXS shotgun to recoil rearward and the hand slides towards the breech, hampering the 2nd shot and causing pain. I would think this would be a important design feature for any high recoiling firearm

 

[Zinz]

Beautiful guns here, gentlemen. I wish I could play at that level.

Holt’s Auctioneers in London always have a large selection of fine English shotguns.

HOLTS Auctioneers

HOLTS are Europe's leading Auctioneers of Fine Modern & Antique Guns.

www.holtsauctioneers.com

Ed Z

 

[8 x 60]

8x60 Robert Churchill would say your shotguns grip is properly designed and built. Many are not.

When reading the Robert Churchill book I learned of a mandatory design feature he required.

Forward of the wrist needed to taper or cone to be thicker as it went forward. Many SxS shotguns are either the same width or get thinner towards the front. This causes the Double rifle or SXS shotgun to recoil rearward and the hand slides towards the breech, hampering the 2nd shot and causing pain. I would think this would be a important design feature for any high recoiling firearm View attachment 715711

View attachment 715712

Thank you for that observation.
I would add that the grip of the .410 is the best (post #33) and the cross-section of it's grip would be best described as a diamond , like this (but of course less pronounced)

t

This is, I believe is the epitome of the stock-makers art. This comes as no surprise given this particular gun was most likely made at the tail end of the the fabulous Birmingham Gun trade (it was probably made in the 1950's - for the trade - by the Midland Gun Company )

She is a delight to use and carry. She was very pitted ahead of the chambers through neglect when I got her. That was sorted (by me, a shade tree gunsmith - no apology) there is a lot of metal in the barrels. I get her out often.

 

[Lance Hopper]

That William Cashmore pigeon Gun is just pure, unadulterated sexy!

 

[rookhawk]

Thank you for that observation.
I would add that the grip of the .410 is the best (post #33) and the cross-section of it's grip would be best described as a diamond , like this (but of course less pronounced)
View attachment 715746t

This is, I believe is the epitome of the stock-makers art. This comes as no surprise given this particular gun was most likely made at the tail end of the the fabulous Birmingham Gun trade (it was probably made in the 1950's - for the trade - by the Midland Gun Company )

She is a delight to use and carry. She was very pitted ahead of the chambers through neglect when I got her. That was sorted (by me, a shade tree gunsmith - no apology) there is a lot of metal in the barrels. I get her out often.

My favorite diamond grip maker was the circa 1895-1910 Joseph Lang Imperials Ejectors. Subsequently Lang & Hussey. They are very nice sidelocks, perfectly built, and can be found for less than $10k. Twenty years ago I bought one in its original oak and leather case, border engraved, with invisibly sleeved barrels for less than $2k.