Let's see some pic's of your SxS's & O/U's
- Thread starter Win/64
- Start date
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
the Holy Grail of Lindner Daly's, a Diamond Quality Model 275 20 gauge.
And the crowd chants, "We want more! We want more!"
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Very nice, VXC!
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Picked this up two weeks ago after selling my MX8. No matter how much tweeking for fit, pitch etc I could just not get that MX to stop punching my cheek bone so I sold it and replaced it with another XT. Something about Brownings they always fit me perfectly out of the box. The guy who bought the MX from me didn't want the RAD I had installed on the stock so I kept it and sent it to Vic Tomlinson to install on the XT which I also purchased from him. The gun came with the spare triggers, original box and 9 extended chokes. It was owned by a 91 year old friend of his and has not seen many rounds fired though it has some non coloured handling marks in the stocks' finish from where the fellow carried it atop his walker at the range. And no he didn't sell it because of his age or quitting shooting, he traded it towards a used Perazzi.
Anyways its not some unique gun like most posted in here but it's a 30"bbl version which seems to be harder to find used than 32" versions and which I prefer for doubles trap. I find a huge difference in handling characteristics and timing getting on the second target between the 30" and 32" versions. The 30" for me moves much faster and more fluid than the 32" version which to me feels "plank" like to swing. It arrived monday about 1 hour before I was heading to the club so that was perfect timing. I made a few adjustments on the comb and RAD to where the gun came to shoulder naturally and with my preferred sight picture. I had no time to pattern or test poi so I walked up onto the 16 yard line and put a shell in the bottom barrel and called "pull". The target disappeared in a black boiling ball. I reloaded this time loading the top barrel, set the selector to "O", called "pull" again and smoked the second target as hard as the first. It was shooting where I was looking so I walked off the line, swapped out the chokes to an IC in the bottom and F in the top and threw two boxes of Federal Top Gun 1oz 7.5's in my pouch and headed for the doubles field. I joined a squad that was walking out to shoot starting on post 4 and broke 9/10, then 9/10 on post 5, 10/10 on post 1, 8/10 on post 2 and 9/10 on post 3 for 45 x 50 for the first full round of doubles through the gun. The gun is to be my dedicated doubles gun and possible back up for singles/caps if my TM should fail. Brownings to me have always been soft shooting and with the RAD set in the #5 pressure position it felt like I was shooting a bb gun. I brought the gun home, took it completely apart removing the stock, RAD etc and gave the gun a thorough once over checking all screw tensions, cleaning and lubing and reassembled it. The weekend after next is SK provincials followed by Western Zone in Edmonton, then AB provincials in Calgary then Canadians in either Swift Current,SK or Olds,AB(will make that decision as the day gets closer) then close out my season with the annual shoot in Wainwright which is a memorial shoot to a fellow shooter we lost this past winter. Looking forward to trying out my new doubles gun!
Anyways its not some unique gun like most posted in here but it's a 30"bbl version which seems to be harder to find used than 32" versions and which I prefer for doubles trap. I find a huge difference in handling characteristics and timing getting on the second target between the 30" and 32" versions. The 30" for me moves much faster and more fluid than the 32" version which to me feels "plank" like to swing. It arrived monday about 1 hour before I was heading to the club so that was perfect timing. I made a few adjustments on the comb and RAD to where the gun came to shoulder naturally and with my preferred sight picture. I had no time to pattern or test poi so I walked up onto the 16 yard line and put a shell in the bottom barrel and called "pull". The target disappeared in a black boiling ball. I reloaded this time loading the top barrel, set the selector to "O", called "pull" again and smoked the second target as hard as the first. It was shooting where I was looking so I walked off the line, swapped out the chokes to an IC in the bottom and F in the top and threw two boxes of Federal Top Gun 1oz 7.5's in my pouch and headed for the doubles field. I joined a squad that was walking out to shoot starting on post 4 and broke 9/10, then 9/10 on post 5, 10/10 on post 1, 8/10 on post 2 and 9/10 on post 3 for 45 x 50 for the first full round of doubles through the gun. The gun is to be my dedicated doubles gun and possible back up for singles/caps if my TM should fail. Brownings to me have always been soft shooting and with the RAD set in the #5 pressure position it felt like I was shooting a bb gun. I brought the gun home, took it completely apart removing the stock, RAD etc and gave the gun a thorough once over checking all screw tensions, cleaning and lubing and reassembled it. The weekend after next is SK provincials followed by Western Zone in Edmonton, then AB provincials in Calgary then Canadians in either Swift Current,SK or Olds,AB(will make that decision as the day gets closer) then close out my season with the annual shoot in Wainwright which is a memorial shoot to a fellow shooter we lost this past winter. Looking forward to trying out my new doubles gun!
I picked up an older Baikal IZ-58 ma from a new vendor on the site. I haven't shot it yet and not sure about chokes or triggers yet. I think its front trigger-right barrel and rear trigger left- barrel. I've read that the chokes are really tight and will need to check patterns. It's in really nice condition except for a little discoloration near the butt plate. I got it for under $300 so no big deal. I might shoot a round or two of trap with it for fun.
Attachments
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Great value, Chum. Good looker, too. I'm sure you're correct regarding the triggers/barrels.
I haven't posted in a while, so here goes.
In the early days of breech-loading guns, all actions were seriously weird. The idea of barrels that moved, of guns breaking open in the middle to load… Just weird.
The earliest methods to fix the barrels closed involved an interrupted screw, operated by a lever, and acting on lugs brazed to the barrels. Casimir Lefaucheux was the first to do this for his pinfire system. The first levers faced forward, under the action and fore-end. Such levers work well but have a certain awkwardness to them.
Beatus Beringer, one enterprising gunmaker of Paris and St Etienne, made the lever swing rearward and combined the lever with the trigger guard. Exactly when is not known to me, but probably in the 1840s if not earlier. What is wholly unclear is who later decided to leave the trigger guard alone and have a separate under-lever follow the contour of the trigger guard bow – the classic 'lever-over-guard' pattern. Beringer may have done this himself, or a British maker may have been inspired by a Beringer gun to do so. The evidence is far from clear. The first 'lever-over-guard' guns started appearing in Britain around 1859, possibly earlier in France.
The late 1850s is a curious time for breech-loaders in Britain. The invention was gaining popularity, but there were probably no more than one or two hundred examples in all of Britain. Only a handful of makers knew how to make one, and even if such makers could manage to make 20 in a year, they probably couldn't move half of them. At some point, the reverse would happen, where demand exceeded supply – something that would have occurred after 1860.
One option in the 1850s in Britain was to use French or other continental guns if a London gun couldn't be had or afforded. More acceptable would be to have a British gunmaker import and market such guns under their name.
As a result of some fortuitous events, the following gun dropped into my lap. It is a 16-bore pinfire game gun, signed Robert Marrison, with a Belgian copy of a typical Beringer action.
The Marrison gunmaking family started with Samuel Marrison, born in 1796 in Norwich, England. In 1821 he established his business in St Benedict's Street, and by 1843 the business had moved to 50 Great Orford Street. In the 1851 census records, Samuel described himself as a gunmaker employing one man and one boy. Samuel had three sons, Samuel Ray, Robert, and Benjamin. Around 1855 Samuel died, and his son Robert continued the business in his name. The 1861 census records Robert as a gunmaker and ornamental engraver. In 1863 Robert Marrison obtained a patent for a forward sliding and side opening breech action, so he was a capable inventor, too. Sometime around 1891, Robert retired, and the Orford Street business closed in the 1890s.
The press of the day records a much more entertaining history. In 1855, Samuel's widow published an advertisement recommending her sons Samuel and Robert "as being fully qualified to carry on the business" and that the firm would continue under the name 'Robert Marrison.' I wonder what the elder Samuel thought of being passed over. However, in July 1858, Marrison was bankrupt. His entire stock was sold off at less than cost price, including "very superior Breech Loading Double Guns, made upon the newest and most approved principles." The business continued, but in late 1860 Marrison suffered another setback when his shop blew up, possibly from a gas leak, an error concerning a large quantity of black powder, or both. Tragically a young man was killed, and walls and part of the street were demolished. The local press had a field day. Marrison went bankrupt again in 1867, and in 1870 was before the courts for selling fireworks without a license. In 1873 he had to take out advertisements in defence of slander from one of his brothers. But the most bizarre turn was in 1891 when Robert Marrison was convicted for fraud, involving several lurid bait-and-switch schemes about hunting dogs and guns, using advertisements in the shooting press. Quite the history, all in all.
But let's go back to this most interesting gun. In outward appearance, it looks like a typical Beringer gun, with a short wooden fore-end and a rearward under-lever that doubles as the trigger guard. By the 1850s, the Beringer patent appears to have run out. This particular action was made by 'M. Godin,' presumably Jean Louis Mathieu Godin, of Herstal, Belgium. The action bar is marked "M. Godin 1865" and "brevete 603", which I presume to be patent no. 1865, and patent use no. 603. I have tracked down photos of a few examples of Godin-marked guns, all of which have the "M. Godin 1865" patent stamp. I do not know what the patent refers to, as guns with this mark are found with Beringer-type underlevers and 'lever-over-guard' actions. The gun has a grip-safety variation, where a small stud behind the triggers has to be depressed by the returned underlever before the triggers can be pulled – clever! I thought the patent might have been for this variation, but other guns with the mark don't appear to have grip safeties.
The top rib is signed "R. Marrison, Great Orford Street, Norwich, No. 2281," though no records have survived against which the serial number could be compared. The 29 11/15" damascus barrels have a Liège provisional proof and bore size in mm (17.2), but no Perron mark. There is an unknown barrel maker's mark, a crown over 'HV.' The barrels have London proof marks and bore size (15), and a London view mark on the action bar.
The fore-end is permanently attached, and the wood is unchequered. Sadly, like all early doubles with fixed fore-ends, the delicate edging to the sides has been damaged by attempts to pry off the fore-end by ham-fisted oafs unfamiliar with the design. The Lefaucheux-style double-bite barrel locking mechanism is of typical form. The combined rearward under-lever and trigger guard bow is identical to Beringer guns, locking in place with a stud on the rear end of the grip finial. The back-action locks are of Belgian shape, inset to the scalloped action back, and are signed "R. Marrison." The bores are moderately pitted, and the gun weighs 6lb 10oz.
Dating this gun is a challenge. It would have to be 1855 or soon after, but I can't imagine the demand for such a gun would have been high once more typically British guns were available. The fact that so few of these guns appear to have survived supports the theory of their limited appeal to the British shooting public.
In the early days of breech-loading guns, all actions were seriously weird. The idea of barrels that moved, of guns breaking open in the middle to load… Just weird.
The earliest methods to fix the barrels closed involved an interrupted screw, operated by a lever, and acting on lugs brazed to the barrels. Casimir Lefaucheux was the first to do this for his pinfire system. The first levers faced forward, under the action and fore-end. Such levers work well but have a certain awkwardness to them.
Beatus Beringer, one enterprising gunmaker of Paris and St Etienne, made the lever swing rearward and combined the lever with the trigger guard. Exactly when is not known to me, but probably in the 1840s if not earlier. What is wholly unclear is who later decided to leave the trigger guard alone and have a separate under-lever follow the contour of the trigger guard bow – the classic 'lever-over-guard' pattern. Beringer may have done this himself, or a British maker may have been inspired by a Beringer gun to do so. The evidence is far from clear. The first 'lever-over-guard' guns started appearing in Britain around 1859, possibly earlier in France.
The late 1850s is a curious time for breech-loaders in Britain. The invention was gaining popularity, but there were probably no more than one or two hundred examples in all of Britain. Only a handful of makers knew how to make one, and even if such makers could manage to make 20 in a year, they probably couldn't move half of them. At some point, the reverse would happen, where demand exceeded supply – something that would have occurred after 1860.
One option in the 1850s in Britain was to use French or other continental guns if a London gun couldn't be had or afforded. More acceptable would be to have a British gunmaker import and market such guns under their name.
As a result of some fortuitous events, the following gun dropped into my lap. It is a 16-bore pinfire game gun, signed Robert Marrison, with a Belgian copy of a typical Beringer action.
The Marrison gunmaking family started with Samuel Marrison, born in 1796 in Norwich, England. In 1821 he established his business in St Benedict's Street, and by 1843 the business had moved to 50 Great Orford Street. In the 1851 census records, Samuel described himself as a gunmaker employing one man and one boy. Samuel had three sons, Samuel Ray, Robert, and Benjamin. Around 1855 Samuel died, and his son Robert continued the business in his name. The 1861 census records Robert as a gunmaker and ornamental engraver. In 1863 Robert Marrison obtained a patent for a forward sliding and side opening breech action, so he was a capable inventor, too. Sometime around 1891, Robert retired, and the Orford Street business closed in the 1890s.
The press of the day records a much more entertaining history. In 1855, Samuel's widow published an advertisement recommending her sons Samuel and Robert "as being fully qualified to carry on the business" and that the firm would continue under the name 'Robert Marrison.' I wonder what the elder Samuel thought of being passed over. However, in July 1858, Marrison was bankrupt. His entire stock was sold off at less than cost price, including "very superior Breech Loading Double Guns, made upon the newest and most approved principles." The business continued, but in late 1860 Marrison suffered another setback when his shop blew up, possibly from a gas leak, an error concerning a large quantity of black powder, or both. Tragically a young man was killed, and walls and part of the street were demolished. The local press had a field day. Marrison went bankrupt again in 1867, and in 1870 was before the courts for selling fireworks without a license. In 1873 he had to take out advertisements in defence of slander from one of his brothers. But the most bizarre turn was in 1891 when Robert Marrison was convicted for fraud, involving several lurid bait-and-switch schemes about hunting dogs and guns, using advertisements in the shooting press. Quite the history, all in all.
But let's go back to this most interesting gun. In outward appearance, it looks like a typical Beringer gun, with a short wooden fore-end and a rearward under-lever that doubles as the trigger guard. By the 1850s, the Beringer patent appears to have run out. This particular action was made by 'M. Godin,' presumably Jean Louis Mathieu Godin, of Herstal, Belgium. The action bar is marked "M. Godin 1865" and "brevete 603", which I presume to be patent no. 1865, and patent use no. 603. I have tracked down photos of a few examples of Godin-marked guns, all of which have the "M. Godin 1865" patent stamp. I do not know what the patent refers to, as guns with this mark are found with Beringer-type underlevers and 'lever-over-guard' actions. The gun has a grip-safety variation, where a small stud behind the triggers has to be depressed by the returned underlever before the triggers can be pulled – clever! I thought the patent might have been for this variation, but other guns with the mark don't appear to have grip safeties.
The top rib is signed "R. Marrison, Great Orford Street, Norwich, No. 2281," though no records have survived against which the serial number could be compared. The 29 11/15" damascus barrels have a Liège provisional proof and bore size in mm (17.2), but no Perron mark. There is an unknown barrel maker's mark, a crown over 'HV.' The barrels have London proof marks and bore size (15), and a London view mark on the action bar.
The fore-end is permanently attached, and the wood is unchequered. Sadly, like all early doubles with fixed fore-ends, the delicate edging to the sides has been damaged by attempts to pry off the fore-end by ham-fisted oafs unfamiliar with the design. The Lefaucheux-style double-bite barrel locking mechanism is of typical form. The combined rearward under-lever and trigger guard bow is identical to Beringer guns, locking in place with a stud on the rear end of the grip finial. The back-action locks are of Belgian shape, inset to the scalloped action back, and are signed "R. Marrison." The bores are moderately pitted, and the gun weighs 6lb 10oz.
Dating this gun is a challenge. It would have to be 1855 or soon after, but I can't imagine the demand for such a gun would have been high once more typically British guns were available. The fact that so few of these guns appear to have survived supports the theory of their limited appeal to the British shooting public.
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Pinfire, aka Mr. Nash, is in an other league. https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/the-forgotten-parker
When you see an old gun with a silver or gold stock escutcheon, it is worth taking a closer look to see if initials or family crests appear. It is surprising what can be learned from them. I recently came across an incorrectly ‘restored’ pinfire gun with an interesting inscription, leading me to discover Henry Walker's Horsley.
What are you to do if you are a Gentleman who is a distant sixth in line to the family title? A life in the military is a good prospect, and Papa can afford to buy a good commission. This appears to have been the case for Henry Stephen Walker, son of Sir James Walker of Sand Hutton, Ryedale District, North Yorkshire. Sir James held various posts as High Sheriff of Yorkshire, Deputy Lieutenant, and Justice of the Peace, and would later become 1st Baronet of Sand Hutton (the Baronetcy would be passed on to his first son, James). Henry would have to make his way in the world, albeit with a helping start. Choosing a regiment would have been difficult, but Henry and Sir James chose the 13th Hussars, purchasing in November 1863 the rank of Cornet. Cornet was the lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, the modern equivalent being a second lieutenant.
The 13th Hussars had a glorious history. As the 13th Light Dragoons, the regiment performed well in the Peninsular War and later at the Battle of Waterloo. In the Crimean War, the regiment was part of the light brigade under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan, first at the Battle of Alma. Then the regiment was the first line of cavalry on the right flank during the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava. Not entirely done with that, the regiment also took part in the Battle of Inkerman and the Siege of Sevastopol. In 1861 the regiment was renamed the 13th Hussars. After the Crimean War, the regiment moved around Ireland, Scotland and England. In 1866 the regiment happened to be in York, about 5 kilometres from the Sand Hutton estate.
This year is important, as it was in 1866 that Henry purchased a best-quality 12-bore bar-in-wood pinfire game gun number 1507 from Thomas Horsley, 10 Coney Street, York. The gun is signed "Thomas Horsley Maker York, Patent 2410" on the top rib, the 30 1/16" damascus barrels have London proofs, and the action bar has an unnumbered "Horsley's Patent No." cartouche. The non-rebounding bar locks are marked "Thos Horsley Patent," and the pull-top-lever snap-action is Thomas Horsley's patent No. 2410 of October 1863. There is fine foliate scroll engraving throughout, a well-figured walnut stock, and the silver stock escutcheon is tellingly marked "HSW XIII Husr" in Old English script.
Whether Henry had a chance to use his new gun on Yorkshire pheasants is unknown, as the regiment was ordered to embark for Canada to defend the country from a Fenian uprising, sailing from Liverpool on three steamships on the 11th and 12th of September 1866. Two troops were posted to Montreal, and the rest went to Toronto. The 13th Hussars' time in Canada was mainly spent establishing a cavalry school to instruct Canadian Mounted Volunteers. Moving up in rank, Henry purchased his Lieutenantcy on the 12th of October, 1867.
The regiment departed for England in June 1869, arriving in Liverpool on the 13th of July. However, before returning, Henry visited the studio of the famed Montreal photographer William Notman to have some portraits made, shown below. Back in England, Henry retired from the army and sold his Lieutenantcy in June 1870. He returned to Canada, settling down in the town of Cobourg along the shores of Lake Ontario, about halfway between Toronto and Kingston. He married Emma Mason in 1870 and raised two sons and a daughter. Whether Henry's prized Horsley returned to the UK and then back to Canada, or remained in Canada the whole time, is unknown.
A note on Notman. His first important commission was the documentation of the construction of Montreal's Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence River. The Prince of Wales attended the bridge opening in 1860. The gift to the Prince of a maple box containing his photographs of the construction of the bridge and scenes of Canada so pleased Queen Victoria that she named Notman "Photographer to the Queen."
© McCord Museum
© McCord Museum
What are you to do if you are a Gentleman who is a distant sixth in line to the family title? A life in the military is a good prospect, and Papa can afford to buy a good commission. This appears to have been the case for Henry Stephen Walker, son of Sir James Walker of Sand Hutton, Ryedale District, North Yorkshire. Sir James held various posts as High Sheriff of Yorkshire, Deputy Lieutenant, and Justice of the Peace, and would later become 1st Baronet of Sand Hutton (the Baronetcy would be passed on to his first son, James). Henry would have to make his way in the world, albeit with a helping start. Choosing a regiment would have been difficult, but Henry and Sir James chose the 13th Hussars, purchasing in November 1863 the rank of Cornet. Cornet was the lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, the modern equivalent being a second lieutenant.
The 13th Hussars had a glorious history. As the 13th Light Dragoons, the regiment performed well in the Peninsular War and later at the Battle of Waterloo. In the Crimean War, the regiment was part of the light brigade under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan, first at the Battle of Alma. Then the regiment was the first line of cavalry on the right flank during the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava. Not entirely done with that, the regiment also took part in the Battle of Inkerman and the Siege of Sevastopol. In 1861 the regiment was renamed the 13th Hussars. After the Crimean War, the regiment moved around Ireland, Scotland and England. In 1866 the regiment happened to be in York, about 5 kilometres from the Sand Hutton estate.
This year is important, as it was in 1866 that Henry purchased a best-quality 12-bore bar-in-wood pinfire game gun number 1507 from Thomas Horsley, 10 Coney Street, York. The gun is signed "Thomas Horsley Maker York, Patent 2410" on the top rib, the 30 1/16" damascus barrels have London proofs, and the action bar has an unnumbered "Horsley's Patent No." cartouche. The non-rebounding bar locks are marked "Thos Horsley Patent," and the pull-top-lever snap-action is Thomas Horsley's patent No. 2410 of October 1863. There is fine foliate scroll engraving throughout, a well-figured walnut stock, and the silver stock escutcheon is tellingly marked "HSW XIII Husr" in Old English script.
Whether Henry had a chance to use his new gun on Yorkshire pheasants is unknown, as the regiment was ordered to embark for Canada to defend the country from a Fenian uprising, sailing from Liverpool on three steamships on the 11th and 12th of September 1866. Two troops were posted to Montreal, and the rest went to Toronto. The 13th Hussars' time in Canada was mainly spent establishing a cavalry school to instruct Canadian Mounted Volunteers. Moving up in rank, Henry purchased his Lieutenantcy on the 12th of October, 1867.
The regiment departed for England in June 1869, arriving in Liverpool on the 13th of July. However, before returning, Henry visited the studio of the famed Montreal photographer William Notman to have some portraits made, shown below. Back in England, Henry retired from the army and sold his Lieutenantcy in June 1870. He returned to Canada, settling down in the town of Cobourg along the shores of Lake Ontario, about halfway between Toronto and Kingston. He married Emma Mason in 1870 and raised two sons and a daughter. Whether Henry's prized Horsley returned to the UK and then back to Canada, or remained in Canada the whole time, is unknown.
A note on Notman. His first important commission was the documentation of the construction of Montreal's Victoria Bridge across the St. Lawrence River. The Prince of Wales attended the bridge opening in 1860. The gift to the Prince of a maple box containing his photographs of the construction of the bridge and scenes of Canada so pleased Queen Victoria that she named Notman "Photographer to the Queen."
© McCord Museum
© McCord Museum
I always love your write-ups Pinfire!
I picked up this nice SxS a couple months back from Tradeex. My goal was not to get a collector's piece, but rather a dependable field gun I could use for a variety of birds. I knew I wanted something chambered for 2-3/4" 12 gauge, so I ended up with this.
Frederick Beesley was not a household name in the English gun trade, but his influence was felt far and wide. He held inumerable patents for various mechanisms that would become staples in the English trade, particularly Purdey's famous self-opening sidelock which they still make to this day.
This particular example has 28" barrels with ejectors, choked approx. Cyl. and Mod. The barrel address of F. Beesley 2 St. James's Street indicates it was made in the period of 1900-39. The proofs indicate it was made before 1921, but has clearly gone back for reproofing at some point after 1954. What makes this gun a great example for shameless field use is the fact it has reblacked barrels which were sleeved at some point, a handful of reblacked parts, and recut checkering. This is most likely when it went for reproofing. Clearly a well used gun which has received some love and care over the years. I can see why too, the gun weighs a mere 6 lbs 1 oz and swings wonderfully.
If you ask me, it's a great way to get a beautifully balancing English SxS without breaking the bank, and you don't worry about carrying it all day. She's happily taken a dozen birds so far this season.
I picked up this nice SxS a couple months back from Tradeex. My goal was not to get a collector's piece, but rather a dependable field gun I could use for a variety of birds. I knew I wanted something chambered for 2-3/4" 12 gauge, so I ended up with this.
Frederick Beesley was not a household name in the English gun trade, but his influence was felt far and wide. He held inumerable patents for various mechanisms that would become staples in the English trade, particularly Purdey's famous self-opening sidelock which they still make to this day.
This particular example has 28" barrels with ejectors, choked approx. Cyl. and Mod. The barrel address of F. Beesley 2 St. James's Street indicates it was made in the period of 1900-39. The proofs indicate it was made before 1921, but has clearly gone back for reproofing at some point after 1954. What makes this gun a great example for shameless field use is the fact it has reblacked barrels which were sleeved at some point, a handful of reblacked parts, and recut checkering. This is most likely when it went for reproofing. Clearly a well used gun which has received some love and care over the years. I can see why too, the gun weighs a mere 6 lbs 1 oz and swings wonderfully.
If you ask me, it's a great way to get a beautifully balancing English SxS without breaking the bank, and you don't worry about carrying it all day. She's happily taken a dozen birds so far this season.
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