Daryl,Appreciate your comments.I have taken another look at the photographs and have revised my thoughts as follows.
1/The action and locks are those covered by T&J Rogers British patent 397 of 1881 and U.S. patent 257,764 of 1882.
2/The U.S patent 257,764 was assigned to J.P.Clabrough[see L.P.Sheltons book,Clabrough and Golcher,Page 86].Did this give Clabrough exclusive marketing rights for this patent action in the U.S.?
3/The 1503 stamped on the action and barrels could be be a control number related to the R&S stamped on the action.This number dose not tie into published W.R.gun number series.
4/R&S could be the trade mark of the people that built up the gun to Simons specifications.No matc hfound for any gun maker of the era with the trade initials/mark R&S!
5/I have owned two Clabroughs finished and engraved to very high standards,both had clover leaf,dolls head rib extensions with hidden bite.They did not have W.R style top levers.
6/The question that remains to be answered is; did Westley Richards,or Clabrough build this gun or was it put together by the mysterious R&S to Simons specifications, using the Rogers patent action with W.R Barrels and top lever?
Very best wishes to all for 2012,Roy
Last edited by Roy Hebbes; 01/07/12 09:29 AM.
