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1 members (smlekid),
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Key:
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Forums10
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Most Online9,918
Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17 |
I think all the deal are in the lesser known English or European doubles.
"I can't find this gunmaker's name anywhere."
"That's because he didn't build guns he sold dry goods."
"What's this ABS stamp on the action flats mean?"
"It means buy it."
Names don't matter to me as much as craftsmanship.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17 |
I think all the deal are in the lesser known English or European doubles.
"I can't find this gunmaker's name anywhere."
"That's because he didn't build guns he sold dry goods."
"What's this ABS stamp on the action flats mean?"
"It means buy it."
All? grin Not quite, treblig, not quite. SRH Why not both?
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17 |
Back in the late 1970's I guess it was I came across a good buy on a Birmingham proofed J P Clabrough & Bros 28" 12 gauge Damascus. Not a super light weight 2 6 lbs 14 oz's but light enough to carry well & had near perfect balance "For Me", 1/4 choke in each barrel with good stock fit & just the right amount of cast off. While I never kept records I can truthfully say that while using that gun I had a higher kill to shots fired ratio than any other gun I have used before or since. I don't recall the exact load used but loaded 1 oz of either #6 or #8 shot @ around 1125-1150 fps depending on use. Powder was the then new on the market DuPont HyScore (pre 700X). I shot predominately quail, rabbit & an occasional woodcock.
Woodcock were not predominant in the area I mostly hunted but were an occasional bonus while either quail or rabbit hunting.
I recall the first season I used this gun I shot around a dozen to maybe 15 woodcock, but the amazing thing was however many it was that was how many shells I expended, didn't miss a single one that year with this Clabrough. I shot it heavily about three seasons & then foolishly sold it. After long years of regret it later cams back home to roost but by then I was not out & about hunting so much as previously so has not been put to much more use.
A good shooting gun is not necessarily dependent on being a "Best" by any means. This Clabrough was likely built in the late 1890's, is well built, but certainly not a "Best". It is a back action sidelock extractor gun with side plates which resemble a bar action. In an 1895/96 Clabrough Golcher & Co of San Francisco, Cal this gun sold new for US $50.00. This compares to, from the same catalog, a Parker PH @ $52.00, Lefever G @ $45.00, Rem A @ $45.00, Ithaca #2 @ $48.00, Baker B @ $50.00 or L C Smith #1 @ $45.00, all extractor guns.
My old Clabrough has no built in wear compensation at all to the locking bolts or hinge joint but some 120 years later is still tight & on face. makes one wonder about the value of compensation. The one thing you don't want to do though, unlike a Lefever, is take it apart with the hammers down. it's a bugger getting it recocked to put back together.
Thanks for the info. One reason why I joined. I've "hunted" woodcock and by hunted I mean walked around in vain. I am pretty sure they are made up to sell gear.
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,542 Likes: 330
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,542 Likes: 330 |
Chris,
They actually do exist. Up here in Michigan they are sometimes "thick as flies" come October! Makes for a great day in the woods.
Karl
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
I think all the deal are in the lesser known English or European doubles.
"I can't find this gunmaker's name anywhere."
"That's because he didn't build guns he sold dry goods."
"What's this ABS stamp on the action flats mean?"
"It means buy it."
Names don't matter to me as much as craftsmanship. I wasn't talking about you specifically Chris but you missed the point I was trying to make. In that post I'm not talking about names or craftsmanship. For example, Alfred Hollis, try running some information on that English name you probably won't find anything at all. However, his name appears on the barrel but someone else actually built that gun. A double gun that was pretty famous for its heavy use in Africa. That is an example of what a buyer of English guns can run into when looking. People will rely on their own investigative skills trying to run down a name appearing on the barrel and may discount it if you cannot find any information. Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for. 
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,247 Likes: 163
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,247 Likes: 163 |
Keep your hand on your wallet CC, lotta old men here who’d love to sell you a few SxSs.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Cajun Chris;
My wife I spent a lovely vacation back in the 1990's, don't recall exact year now, in Lafayette LA. Sure enjoyed chowing down on that "Crawdad" etoufee & alligator tail. Went down to Avery Island & toured the Tabasco plant & also saw the Egrets nesting there. Took a nice boat tour of the big swamp north of Lafayette, can't recall how to spell it now, but semi remember how to pronounce it. We have a town here in East TN with the same spelling as Lafayette but folks there call it La-Fay'-ette rather than Laf' ay-ette. Don't know if I got those accents exactly right, but anyway it's pronounced totally different, sorta like folks in Southern IL call Cai'ro, Karo. Would love to make it down again, but just don't travel much anymore.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,826 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,826 Likes: 12 |
Hold on, why doesn't anyone mention Remington doubles ? You can't find one, but their 1894 Special cost more than the best Parker. I find them one of the easiest doubles to work on, when necessary. Their 16ga guns are also rare. Good luck and it's nice to see another become interested in SxS's no matter what the brand.
Last edited by Paul Harm; 01/06/18 02:16 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17 |
I think all the deal are in the lesser known English or European doubles.
"I can't find this gunmaker's name anywhere."
"That's because he didn't build guns he sold dry goods."
"What's this ABS stamp on the action flats mean?"
"It means buy it."
Names don't matter to me as much as craftsmanship. I wasn't talking about you specifically Chris but you missed the point I was trying to make. In that post I'm not talking about names or craftsmanship. For example, Alfred Hollis, try running some information on that English name you probably won't find anything at all. However, his name appears on the barrel but someone else actually built that gun. A double gun that was pretty famous for its heavy use in Africa. That is an example of what a buyer of English guns can run into when looking. People will rely on their own investigative skills trying to run down a name appearing on the barrel and may discount it if you cannot find any information. Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for. Ahh, I got it. Sometimes I am slow.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 17 |
Keep your hand on your wallet CC, lotta old men here who’d love to sell you a few SxSs. Can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. I need to find cheaper hobbies. My buddy and I went look at boats today and they are ridiculously expensive. Even used boats.
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