doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A nice SLE by W P Jones

Whoever made the stock of this gun could certainly wield a chisel.

I think the engraver switched from his usual tea to coffee....STRONG coffee



Beautiful gun, Mark.

Thanks for the input gentlemen!

WC - no numerical stamps anywhere near the the forend loop, while looking I did notice a small circle of words (letters?) I will try to photograph later today.

2holer - thanks for the links, Mr Jones sure went out of his way when it came to engraving.

Justin - Thank you for the info.

Roy - thank you for the info. I had not heard of that book, and it looks like it's readily available and reasonably priced.

M

Jones made guns for the trade, too. I have a Kirkwood [U.S.] marked with W.P.J.

I'd certainly agree that the engraving is a very high % coverage and of very high quality. The composition is --- well --- confusing. I have to admit that the use of scroll, rose bouquet, and animal scene is novel.

Interesting to see best work on a flat back with a through lump, too. A very good example of best work that doesn't conform to the London pattern for best guns.

Is the "Trade Mark" on the floor plate WPJ?

DDA

Very interesting and eclectic mix of engraving on the locks, classic Webley fences and relatively simple, mid quality lock work. Certainly a very nicely finished gun, I agree, it most likely came from Webley.

WPJ was an inventive man. I actually have a single trigger hammer gun by him! The only one I have ever seen, built with his patent - and it works!

Great eyes Rocketman.
What is the "flat back" you refer to?

Hollis Bentley and Playfair produced guns with those fences. Their 1911 Cataloge shows an illustration of same. They were advertising guns built "for the Trade".

"Flatback" and "stocked to the fences" are two major variations of the joint between the action and the butt stock. "Flat back" has a short horizontal extension of the action back and joins the stock in a more or less straight vertical line. "Stocked to the fences" does away with the short action back extension and brings the stock right up to the fence/ball.

FB was used a great deal during the 1880's - 90's, but got demoted generally to lower Original Quality grade guns as the "London bestr gun" pattern gained fashion status. It is common to find "best work guns" in FBSLE form the late 1800's, less so from the early 1900's.

As far as I can determine, there is no overt design advantage to either. There is undeniable fashion status advantage.



A Charles Hellis stocked to the fences SLE.

Thanks,Rocketman