Charles Osborne sxs

rthook

rthook

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What can you guys tell me about charles osborne shotguns. Epps has one in the used gun section and I like the look of it but can't find any info on then. Thanks for any help.
 
Nice Birmingham firm, survived until just before the 2nd World War.

From the Internet Gun Club:

Charles Osborne was established in 1838 as a gunmaker and factor at 1 Litchfield Street, Birmingham.
He moved in 1854 to 12 & 13 Whittall Street and traded as C Osborne & Co.
In 1858 he was appointed Guardian of the Birmingham Proof House.
In 1871 he died at the age of 72.
The business appears to have traded also as a partnership (although it was only recorded as such in 1884) between Charles Osborne (Jnr), Charles Francis Ellis and E W Wilkinson, and the partners seem to have traded in their individual capacities as well.
Charles Francis Ellis was recorded at 12-13 Whittall Street from 1873 to 1875, and Charles Osborne Ellis was recorded there from 1877 to 1882. Charles Osborn Ellis was probably Charles Francis's son - the Osborne and Ellis families were obviously inter-related.
An office and shop were opened at 3 Broad Street Buildings, Broad Street, London, they were recorded from 1881 but probably opened in 1879 when the company were appointed agents for Remington Arms Co, a position they held until 1911.
In 1884 (when the partnership was recorded) Charles Osborne (Jnr), Charles Osborn Ellis and E W Wilkinson were granted patent No. 8402 for a drop-down barrel action.
In 1885 the London shop moved to 7 Whitehall Place and further shops were opened in Edinburgh at 47 George Street and Glasgow at Blythswood Square.
In 1887 the firm obtained patent No. 7222 for another drop-down barrel action, and in 1888 patent No. 11970 referred to punt guns and sliding block actions.
By 1889 the firm's Birmingham factory also occupied 14 Whittall Street; in that year Ellis and Wilkinson (trading as Charles osborne & Co were granted patent No. 11879 for a self-cocking sliding-block action for punt guns.
In 1892 the London office moved to 2 Great Scotland Yard.
In 1895 the firm took additional premises at 16-17 Sand Street, Birmimgham.
In 1896 they became a limited company.
In 1898 a patent was taken out with W Jerman for another punt gun with a sliding lock action.
In 1908 the London office moved to 10 York Buildings.
In 1909 Osborne and Ryland patented a modified Anson & Deeley action.
In 1928 the London shop closed. It was probably at this time that the Glasgow and Edinburg shops closed.
Some records say the firm closed in 1930, other (less reliable?) sources say "during the Second World War".
The firm were prolific manufacturers of guns, rifles and pistols for the South African and Indian markets; their range of large bore big game rifles particularly double rifles was one of the widest available.
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Tell us about the gun, does it have Damascus barrels? Is it a boxlock, sidelock or a hammer gun? What is the address / inscription on the barrels?

Edited to add: I see it is a 16 gauge boxlock ejector, 30 inch bbls. I don't care for the semi pistol grip or the side clips, but IF it locks up tight it could be a nice gun. Things to watch out for include a short length of pull and excessive drop. Knowing the inscription on the rib would be helpful.

Sharptail
 
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CHARLES OSBORNE

SIDE X SIDE BOCKLOCK

16GA X 2-3/4"

30" FLUID STEEL BBLS, FIXED CHOKES (MOD / FULL), 40% CASE HARDENED FINISH, SEMI PISTOL GRIP STOCK, SPLINTER FORE END, ANSON FORE END LATCH, SIDE CLIPS, EJECTORS, DOUBLE TRIGGERS, RECOIL PAD

30"bbl M/F chokes, 16 ga is a curious combination.
 
MauserMike said:
CHARLES OSBORNE

SIDE X SIDE BOCKLOCK

16GA X 2-3/4"

30" FLUID STEEL BBLS, FIXED CHOKES (MOD / FULL), 40% CASE HARDENED FINISH, SEMI PISTOL GRIP STOCK, SPLINTER FORE END, ANSON FORE END LATCH, SIDE CLIPS, EJECTORS, DOUBLE TRIGGERS, RECOIL PAD

30"bbl M/F chokes, 16 ga is a curious combination.
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What do you mean curious does something about it not sound right?
 
rthook said:
What do you mean curious does something about it not sound right?
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Mike can speak for himself but it's an unusual configuration. With side clips, 30" barrels, choked mod and full this sounds like a waterfowler configuration. What is unusual is that it is in 16 gauge which isn't that common in the U.K. compared to 12. Maybe it was ordered by a Continental where the 16 gauge is more prevalent

I don't think there is something not right but it's a bit of an odd duck (pardon the pun.)
 
Sharptail said:
Nice Birmingham firm, survived until just before the 2nd World War.

From the Internet Gun Club:



Tell us about the gun, does it have Damascus barrels? Is it a boxlock, sidelock or a hammer gun? What is the address / inscription on the barrels?

Edited to add: I see it is a 16 gauge boxlock ejector, 30 inch bbls. I don't care for the semi pistol grip or the side clips, but IF it locks up tight it could be a nice gun. Things to watch out for include a short length of pull and excessive drop. Knowing the inscription on the rib would be helpful.

Sharptail
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Ok Epps sent me a pic of the barrels they say Made for Simpson & Hunter Gunsmiths Edmonton Alta. 15" LOP 15/8" comb 23/4" heel
 
rthook said:
Ok Epps sent me a pic of the barrels they say Made for Simpson & Hunter Gunsmiths Edmonton Alta. 15" LOP 15/8" comb 23/4" heel
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Wow, what a coincidence. David Henry Gunmakers in Bentley, Ab. had a Charles Osborne with the same inscription on the rib. It was said to be circa 1908. I wonder how many they brought in, and for how long?

Without the usual maker's address on the rib it is harder to establish when the example you are looking at was built, but one would think that it was somewhere around the same time period (how long was Simpson & Hunter in business?). It is surely pre SAAMI, I would run low pressure loads through it. You might have to load your own low pressure non toxic loads for waterfowl.

A 15 inch length of pull is long for an English gun of this era, has a pad been added? Any idea how much the gun weighs?


Sharptail
 
MauserMike said:
Claybuster has it right.

You won't find too many people shooting waterfowl with 16 ga, well especially now with non-toxic loads.
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I think by the date of the gun lead shot and a 30" barrel would be deadly on Waterfowl. A 15" length of pull is a little odd. Is it an add on?
 
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15" LOP is not odd in a double trigger gun, you should always measure a double trigger gun to the FRONT trigger. Most of mine are 15" or so.
 
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