doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Thomas Cook SxS Shotgun...Need help with any info

I was given this shotgun by my Grandfather this past weekend. It was brought to America in 1873 when my Great, Great, Great Grandfather came over. The gun has been passed down through the generations. My Grandfather has had it since 1941. The rib is marked "THOs COOK MAKER SHEPTON MALLETT". It is a 12 bore with hammers and extractors. The butt is checkered with engraved heel and toe caps. The forend is held in place with a wedge pin. Below are some pictures. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to email me at christopher.g.dunlap@us.army.mil

Nice looking gun....remove the barrels and post a close up picture of the proof marks.

The Cook business was established in 1797 by John Cook, High,Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset,In 1844 the business transfered to Thomas Cook,[Senior]. In 1844 the business was taken over by Thomas Cook [Junior].Records show that the business closed in 1866.
Thomas Cook,Junior, would have been the maker or seller of your gun. It looks like a good example of the work of the English provincial gun maker,likely using Birmingham supplied components and barrels," in the White".Proof marks may help in identifying a possible source.

Where were you able to dig up the above information? Is there a book out there that covers Thomas Cook? Will post pics of the proof marks when I get home tonight.

Doesn't 1866 predate the W&C Scott top lever ?

Below are a couple more pictures that include the proof marks from the barrels and the frame. The patent date on the frame is 1870. The Patent number is 324.

The Patent 324 of 1870 is the J.Thomas patent,covering a single bite snap action, with top lever opening. [I recently reviewed on this forum a H.& H. Rook rifle built on this patent action], J.Thomas was a Birmingham gun maker. The proof marks are Birmingham black powder pre 1900. The 13 seen stamped on the barrels means that although chambered as a 12G. The barrels at the time of proof were bored 13 G.This is by no means uncommon.The T.Cook business is reviewed in the book "English Gunmakers",by De Witt Bailey and Douglas A.Nie. They give the last date of operation for the business as 1866. This is likely the last date that they were recorded as active in the trade directories of the day. The use of the 1870 Thomas patent action, shows that T.Cook continued in business at least until 1870.

I had posted this, then saw that Roy had almost identical info and so deleted it. This is what the Internent Gun Club database has:

"...the business trading until about 1883 when the business was sold to Arthur Chamberlain. Arthur and his brother Edwin were probably apprenticed to and worked for Thomas (jr)"

About Chamberlain:

"In 1871 Edwin was a gunmaker aged 22, probably working for Thomas Cook Jr of Shepton Mallet, and Arthur (aged 12) was a gunmaker's apprentice.
In about 1882 Arthur bought the business of Thomas Cook at 48 High Street, Andover, and married Eleanora (b.1859 in Shepton Mallet).
In about 1886 the business moved to 19 High Street, Andover"

I am do not know the source they are using.

Pete

In 1882 when Chamberlain took over the Cook business it was of course still in Shepton Mallet and not Andover.This means that the latest date for the manufacture of the gun under review would be 1883.Following the relocation of the business to Andover, Hampshire,the name was changed to Chamberlain. By virtue of the patent date of 1870 we can say that the gun under review was made between 1870 and 1883. The Thomas patent enjoyed only limited success,it is therefore likely the gun was made early in the 1870,s.
Note:Boothroyd records;" Edward Chamberlain at Winchester Street,Andover, Hampshire Circa 1900."

I do know that the gun was brought to America in 1873 by John Rogers (my great, great, great grandfather). He arrived in America and purchased a tract of 560 acres in June of 1873. I believe that narrows it down to 1870-1873 for manufacture. Is there a source that may have a ledger book or serial number record? The serial number on the gun is 4228.

Thanks for all the replies on this so far. As my user name suggests I collect Pre-13 L.C. Smiths. However when it comes to British guns I am very uneducated.