London Armoury SXS

3

383SB

Regular
Rating - 85.7%
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A friend recently picked up a sxs and was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about it, perhaps the year even? Lock up is ok with a very small amount of wiggle, top lever is sitting strait if not a bit to the right. its quite faint but it has Damascus barrels in ok looking condition, would that be safe for modern ammo? Any info would be greatly appreciated.


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According to the database of Internet Gun Club, the limited Co. of London Armoury operated at the address on your rib from 1895 to 1902. Gun was proofed in Birmingham so not likely made in London, and at that time had 2 1/2" chambers. Hopefully no-one in the meantime has lengthened them. Whether safe to fire now could be determined by a qualified smith assessing health of the barrels and to see if the gun is still in proof. If so, would stick to low pressure, low recoil 2.5" shells, e.g. from RST
 
The gun is made prior to the mid 1920s, so not designed and built for modern high pressure ammunition. So the quick answer to your question of is it safe for modern ammunition is no.

A lot can happen to a gun in 120 plus years, like excessive honing resulting in thinned barrels, so Londonshooter’s advice to have it checked by a competent SxS smith is just smart. And while the barrels can blow, the most likely damage that will be caused is a cracked or broken stock from excessive recoil. The wood shrinks over time and contact with the receiver is reduced, resulting in excessive, focused recoil force and the wood won’t last.

And don’t fool yourself that light target loads are “low pressure”. They are not. Only low pressure shells are low pressure. Some examples of low pressure shells are:
Kent Elite 2 1/2”
Gamebore
Winchester AA low recoil, low noise
Anything from RST.
 
Wow, thanks a lot you guys, very much appreciated! Being a family heirloom it sounds like she may be a wall hanger. Just out of curiosity is it a low, medium or higher end shotgun, not a lot I can find on them.
 
Can't see much of the gun in your photos but given the plain-ness of the action/fence sculpting and the minimal engraving, I would say it would fall into the low end of the range on English guns. That said, English guns are valued precisely because of the high level of craftsmanship applied to most of their production. So likely a simple, plain but finely made gun.
 
canvasback said:
Can't see much of the gun in your photos but given the plain-ness of the action/fence sculpting and the minimal engraving, I would say it would fall into the low end of the range on English guns. That said, English guns are valued precisely because of the high level of craftsmanship applied to most of their production. So likely a simple, plain but finely made gun.
Click to expand...

The wood/metal marriage is impressive, even up that close.
 
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