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3 members (CJF, Karl Graebner, 1 invisible),
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7 |
This is a Charles Maleham reinforced BLE. It has been rebarreled by Radcliff long ago. I think it was a complete rebarrel as I see no evidence of sleeving. It appears to be a W&S screw grip. There is a similar model in the 1914 catalog sporting a Greener style top latch, but this gun is much earlier. The ejectors are interesting. The hold back springs are exposed on the forend. It makes me think the ejectors were an add-on. Look at the action photo. The 2 small holes above the cocking rods are the ejector kickers. It took some detailed machining to add/make that. The ejectors work fine, whoever made them.    Joe
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,768 Likes: 115
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,768 Likes: 115 |
Joe, I think I might have its twin! Or almost as mine has the square cross bolt fastening. Certainly from the Scott stable. Mine has the 20 Regent Street address and I can date it from 1896 to 1900. It has just passed re-proof and the action is in for the stock to be lengthened. I have just finished striking up the barrels and will be taking it to Birmingham on Friday for browning. Mine appears to have the same ejector system; Maleham patented two, and mine are marked Pat-12008 1889.  I see what looks like the London re-proof mark on yours. I have the original case but someone has taken out the lable. The name is now owned by Arthur Turner Gunmakers Sheffield but not the records. They did send me a Turner Late Maleham lable which was the best that they could do. The serial number on mine is 1929. Lagopus.....
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7 |
My guns SN is 1819. The rib says Radcliff, Colchester.
I have the 1914 W&S catalog in pdf form. The model is "The Reliance", the price 26 gbp, ejectors were 8 gbp extra,the square cross bolt was extra. It is on page 11.
I'd place your gun and mine earlier. In 1914 it was only offered with steel barrels. 1914 it also shows a single scallop in the reciever instead of the 2 that our guns have.
It was the best (most expensive) boxlock you could buy from them at the time.
So look guys, a "best boxlock".
Joe
Last edited by Joe in Charlotte; 05/19/10 12:23 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1 |
20 years or so I owned a 20ga like this , it was marked W C Scott and Sons, it had Southgate ejectors and the single scallop, serial was 77588. It was a very nice gun but so light I could not shoot it and it went down the road.
I learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what I learned the day before was wrong
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,768 Likes: 115
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,768 Likes: 115 |
Joe, serial numbers never did make much sense. Apparently the Maleham numbers were in some sort of code rather than sequential. Does yours have a strange sort of forend catch; a Scott patent of 1873 in which it is a push button on the underside of the forend. On mine the push button has a very small engraving of the Scott trade mark in the form of a castle. Would it be too much to ask if you could mail me a copy of the page showing the Reliance gun if I let you have my e-mail address? I have the Scott book by Crawford & Whatley which has a little about this model. Lagopus.....
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,660 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,660 Likes: 7 |
Nice to see "relatives" somewhat united.
Very nice guns chaps. Is it only my impression that scalloped British boxlocks
are few and far between?
Lagopus, it would be nice to see the dear when the barrels come back after
browning.
JC
"...it is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance."ť Charles Darwin
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7 |
Lagopus, the gun has the forend latch you describe. The engraving is worn, but it has the castle. I'll get a photo up after I get home.
I can send the whole catalog if you'd like it is only 8 mb, so it shouldn't fill your inbox.
I just need an address.
Joe
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,971 Likes: 103 |
Several Maleham patents for ejectors in that era but I can find none to match yours (The British Shotgun, Vol. 2 by Crudgington & Baker). Seems to have been quite the tinkerer and mechanic.
John McCain is my war hero.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7 |
Lagopus, Here is the forend. The engraving is worn, but you can make out the castle and word "patent". Would you consider the gun was made between 1873 and 1887 (14 years of protection)? My gun has replacement barrels so I don't have original proof marks or makers address to dig deeper.  Joe
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 335 Likes: 7 |
Lagopus, Here is the catalog page. You can right click on the image and copy the address. Paste the address into the Explorer address bar and hit enter. You should see the full image on Photobucket with good enough quality to print for your records. Joe 
Last edited by Joe in Charlotte; 05/20/10 09:14 AM.
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