I have owned two turn of the century Kavanagh sle's and handled maybe a half dozen shotguns, SLE's mostly and a BL, a few double rifles, one a Jones rotary under-lever 8 bore with 20" barrels and a shotgun stock, ( a close quarters DG bush gun or a version of a howdah maybe), the eight was probably from the 1850's - 60's. I would rate the quality of the guns I have seen as being very good to excellent with a shooter in the mix. The double rifles were top shelf.
Kavanagh was doing business at a time when Dublin was home to many notable gun & rifle makers, William & John Rigby of Suffolk Street, William Trulock , Thomas Fowler, Thomas Calderwood, McKnight etc. and as Roy Hebbes notes, some very able apprentice.
Is the gun Damascus or steel barrelled ? Any photos?
