W.R. Pape (Pics)

[Baribal]

After looking at it, I realized the 3" / 76mm chambers were done well BEFORE the last proof.
This gun was reproofed at least twice, as shows the two different "Crown over R" stamps.
I can see it has Crown over BP (being the "proof" mark) and crown over BV (being the "view" mark) which dates it from 1904 - 1954 period, while the two 18.6 and "Crown over BNP" are post '54 (and there's two of them...). The NITRO-PROOF 1 1/2 (no other unit marks, like Oz), is correct for the 1904-1925 period.
The 12 / LC is post 1904 and is correct for a "over 3" chamber" and 12 / "C" would be for a "standard" chamber and these goes with the proofmarks. After 1904, the long chambers needed to be stamped 12 / LC and declared (mandatory) as long chambers and they were proofed with 1/6 more powder proof charge.
The 850 bar is correct for the post 1989 era... so, you have the picture..
There's a lot of history on this shotgun.

 

[cassis820]

W.r.pape

http://www.malcolmsguns.co.uk/WR%20Pape%20Collection.htm

1831 - William Rochester Pape was born in Amble.

1858 - W.R.Pape wins the Field Trials.

1859 - W.R.Pape wins the Field Trials.

1859 - W.R.Pape organises the first dog show in Great Britain and the prizes are Pape shotguns.

1866 - W.R.Pape wins the Field Trials.

1866 - Invented choke boring in Shotguns (British Patent No. 1501)

1867 - W.R.Pape provisionally patents a system of mechanically retracting firing pins (#594[p] 2/3/1867). Later in the same year Pape improves upon this system (#2488 3/9/1867). This patent also includes a description of an extractor.

1870 - W.R.Pape patents yet another improvement of mechanically retracting firing pins (#752 15/3/1870).

1875 - W.R.Pape wins a prize of ten guineas awarded to "the original inventor" of choke boring. The prize is the idea of a Mr. Lane, and is awarded to settle a dispute taking place inthe correspondence column of "The Field" newspaper over the origins of choke boring. THE FIELD organises a trial to compare the merits of the new choke bored guns over the traditional cylinder bores. Pape finishes 2nd and 3rd in class 1 for choke border guns and 1st in class 2 for cylinders (Pape has entered three guns in his own name and three in the name of Davison of Morpeth). The trials leave no doubt as to the superior patterns and penetration of choke bored guns.

1887 - W.R.Pape wins a prize medal at the royal mining engineering and industrial exhibition.

1889 - W.R.Pape retires, leaving the business to his son, Victor.

1889 - W.R.Pape guns win a diploma of merit at the Glasgow exhibition.

1902 - W.R.Pape moves his business from 29 Collingwood St. and 36 Westgate Rd. to 21 Collingwood St.

1923 - W.R.Pape dies following a road accident.

1935 - W.RPape business was bought and name-changed to Bagnall & Kirkwood (Late of W.R.Pape).

1944 - Sidney Guthrie was employed by Mr. Kirkwood as a junior assistant.

1954 - Mr. Kirkwood died and Mr. Guthrie took over the business.

1969 - Bagnall & Kirkwood moved to 52 Grey Street.

1973 - Mr. Guthrie's wife Mrs. E. Guthrie joined the business and became joint owner.

1981 - Mr and Mrs Guthrie's son Alan joined the business.

1993 - Sidney Guthrie died in April of this year and his widow moved the business to 28 Grey Street in October of this year.

W.R.Pape Gun Serial Numbers:

1857 - 100
1884 - 4061
1911 - 11721
1858 - 140
1885 - 4094
1912 - 11872
1859 - 159
1886 - 4152
1913 - 12072
1860 - 500
1887 - 4236
1914 - 12260
1861 - 586
1888 - 5515
1915 - 12394
1862 - 803
1889 - 6010
1916 - 12495
1863 - 994
1890 - 6543
1917 - 12568
1864 - 1042
1891 - 6738
1918 - 12630
1865 - 1087
1892 - 7122 1919 - 12658
1866 - 1200
1893 - 7434
1920 - 12687
1867 - 1380
1894 - 7564
1921 - 12829
1868 - 1454
1895 - 8135
1922 - 12940
1869 - 1511
1896 - 8324
1923 - 12944
1870 - 1680
1897 - 8448
1924 - 13085
1871 - 1771
1898 - 8607
1925 - 13149
1872 - 2025
1899 - 8783
1926 - 13231
1873 - 2091
1900 - 8949
1927 - 13359
1874 - 2350
1901 - 10119
1928 - 13389
1875 - 2477
1902 - 10326
1929 - 13408
1876 - 2658
1903 - 10524
1930 - 13419
1877 - 2726
1904 - 10656
1931 - 13446
1878 - 2879
1905 - 10785
1932 - 13487
1879 - 3103
1906 - 10881
1933 - 13509
1880 - 3488
1907 - 11117
1934 - 13522
1881 - 3553
1908 - 11245
1935 - 13528
1882 - 3586
1909 - 11456
1936 - 13541
1883 - 3639
1910 - 11621
1937 - 13546

 

[catnthehatt]

Pic of the proof-marks...It says 3" and SUP which is magnum proof.

WOW!! Check the shot charge 1 1/2oz!!
One major piece of waterfowl ordnance!!
Cat

 

[oberndorf]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I was leaning more towards live pigeon instead of waterfowl gun because of the fancy checkering and the figured stock...