Tolley & Co Makers 12 ga. double

[kjohn]

I came across this shotgun and need to do some research on it and try to establish a value/selling price. It came to me in a collection.

The serial numbers all match. It is marked "DAMASCUS" on the under side between the barrels, under the forend. One barrel has a nasty dent, but the barrels don't appear to be pitted inside. There is no rust on the gun that I can see. For a shotgun of its age, I would say it is in good condition only. The wood is decent, but has some marks and gouges. It is a sidelock. The buttstock has had lines cut across where a butt plate normally would fit.

Thanks in advance for any info and input.

Some pics:

 

[kjohn]

Few more pics:

 

[canvasback]

Well, J & W Tolley were at Loveday Street between 1874 and 1903 so that fits with the style of hammerless sidelock. Looks to be very well used and not particularly well maintained. Wood has been cracked in the past, it's definitely shrunk away from the action. The butt, which on English guns is often finished that way, is a mess. You say it has a large dent. It has no value as a collector and not much as a shooter as it requires a bunch of basic work.

I have a Tolley. Very nice gun. Tolley is really known for making big bore wildfowling guns. (Wildfowling being "waterfowling" in England). So the questions on my mind are how long are the barrels and how much does the gun weigh? With the straight stock I'm guessing this is a game gun so not really representative of what Tolley was known for. (Doesn't mean it wasn't a good gun once).

As an aside, that's the first one I've seen that isn't marked J & W Tolley, but just Tolley. Interesting.

Sorry, you are looking for a valuation. Here's one. Tolley is not one of the 21 top English names who command a premium on the used gun market. This gun was originally a 4th or 5th quality sidelock.....next to the bottom level. Well made but basic. It's in rough condition now. I would call it marginally shootable needing major repairs soon. A gun like this will sell at auction in the US in US dollars for between $275 and $550. I'd hazard a guess that is a reasonable price range to hope to get in Canadian dollars here in Canada. IMHO. YMMV

I say that as someone who is predisposed to like Tolleys and who is no stranger to resuscitating worn out guns. Even at those prices this looks like a money pit to me.

 

[gunsaholic]

Well, it needs a restock which would far surpass its value. But being Damascus barrels with a nasty dent and worn finish, combined with the wood issues, you basically have a wall hanger in its present state. I would be quite surprised if the bores don't have pitting, unless they have been honed which is another can of worms. People don't pay much for something to look at. I sold a Tolley 10 gauge as few months ago which was maybe in a bit better condition than yours. I got $325.00.

 

[kjohn]

Okay. Not sure about the "cracked stock". There is a run of what looked like stain or pain on the butt stock, and an ugly scratch up by the safety. For sure, the old shotgun has seen better days.

I am not hoping for an evaluation because "it was grampa's old shotgun". I have no attachment to this one. I get all kinds of people at gun shows wanting to know about "grampa's old shotgun" and usually the gun in question is basically a wall hanger and of about the appropriate value.

So many things about most old shotguns that cut the value aren't really noticed by the casual looker. Buggered screws are a killer, "restored" guns are almost in the disaster class, and a host of other things. This old girl has a high percentage of faults. It was probably a nice shotgun in its day.