doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Arthur ilsley Gunmaker of Birmingham England ????

I thank everyone for their responces and opinion. Somewhere in the MIX is the truth. Roy, I think that chart is great and can be interpreted in many ways.
i:e I shot a 10 ga. and now I know why so little amount of ammo sold.
Recoil Rob, I look at the ammo sales as my answer to the # of european guns sold. When I compare it to the sales of 28's in the US only Parker and Ithaca made them and in very few numbers. LC Smith and Fox did not at all. It seem to me from the ammo sale #'s that it was pretty much the same in Europe.

During the era that ELEY collected data there were no bag limits in the U.K other than those self set by responsible shoot owners. There was and is government legislated closed seasons for all game birds, wildfowl and in some cases the hare. As stated by Lapogus, 28 G guns are extremely rare. I was an avid collector of English guns during the 1970-1990,s. I probabley visited 80%[ My wife says 100%] of the gunshops/ makers in England. During all of this time,I doubt I saw more than 5 used English Guns in 28G.

Then putting your therory and statements into account would explain why the ,.410 has almost twice as much ammo sold than 20g..
With 28 ga not being sold at all(1/2 of 1%).Just not enough guns.
Roy, with your experience what value range do you think a gun like this falls in. 28 "barrels, straight stock (good diementions), and 4lb 15 oz.

As far as present value is concerned your best bet is to check recent U.K.auction results for a similar gun[ie;past 2 years max]. Holts auctions would be a good starting point. Better still send Holts details of your gun. I am sure they will provide a pre-sale estimate.
I am aware that a similar 28G gun by Watson, recently changed hands in S.W. Ontario, reputedly in the $5-6000 range.This is only the second 28 G that I have seen in 40 years attendance at Ontario gun shows.

I suppose the easiest way of answering your question would be to ask the Birmingham Proof House how many 28's they proofed compared with other guages?
All I can say is that 28 SxS are like hens teeth in the gunshops, but how many are locked away in the cupboard due to the relatively high cost of ammunition?

Thanks Gentleman for places to look further.Now it is just a curiosity.
You have provided the answer to the question of how rare one shows up.
I have to tell you it was easier to throw in the trunk to go shooting when I thought it was a cheaper gun.

Still no bag limits in the U.K. Roy. I would think that 28 bore ammo sells just a little more than it did then due to more imported 28's becoming popular. English 28's are seldom encountered. I know of one J. Woodward boxlock non-ejector for sale (not made by them but somewhere in Birmingham) and a nice little W.Richards of Liverpool; other than that they seldom show up. Lagopus.....

Here is a bench mark as to the current value of a 28G gun.In the August 2009 issue of,"Sporting Gun",page 80; Pantiles Vintage Guns, is offering for sale a 28G John Dickson B.L.N.E,In makers case for 2495 pounds.

Thanks for the continuing insight.
Roy , I am not informed of Dickson but his website is sure top of the line. $4100 is good money in anyone's book.
Is his 28 ga. a "round body" ejector gun simular to mine?

B.L.N.E = box lock none ejector. Auto ejectors would increase the value by $1-1500.Dickson guns are usually at a premium; in particular if made complete in Edinburgh. They did how ever finish Birmingham made guns in their Edinburgh works. These guns sold at a lower cost. I suspect that this 28G is likely of Birmingham origin. I have always found Dicksons to be very helpful in providing the history of their guns.