S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics38,931
Posts550,843
Members14,460
|
Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
It appears to be a montage of Belgian & German mechanic efforts. A Gesteck / parts kit was sourced from Liège, then Krupp tubes were added & finished in Suhl, Germany in 1931. Some of that British Chicken-Scratching obscures the original marks and I for one would say it is a Cardinal Sin to do so but the Birmingham(Guardians) proofmasters, along with the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, are quite pompous and tend to suggest that only their marks are proper & apply.
Serbus,
Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 870 Likes: 38
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 870 Likes: 38 |
This gun just confuses me… We appear to have a Belgian made ( Guild or by a known maker?), action that was built on a relatively “ difficult “ to make ( or at least difficult to perfectly regulate) Purdey patent ( purchased from Beesley),——that then incorporated an extractor forearm, and barrels that sourced and proofed in Germany— ( why not an ejector forearm, a gun of this quality would “ normally “ be built as an ejector)— and the winds up in the Birmingham proof house ( and purchased by a Brit ? ) . It seems odd that a gunmaker would choose to cobble together a upper end combination of action , wood , engraving, and fitting, and then bow to use an extractor rather than ejector. The barrels and for end are clearly of German design and added later as the engraving ( scroll work) do not match at the junction of the forearm/ bottom of receiver. ( see my original post third photo).
Was this gun purchased in Europe and subsequently landed in England to be proofed in order to allow re sale?
Guns original barrels were damaged and the Krupp barrels are a replacement ( they are fitted perfectly).?
I just don’t get why a parts supplier would use a Beesley action rather than the simpler H&H action.
Best Regards, JBP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
I'd like to see a foto of the marks higher on the tubes towards the forend hanger.
Serbus,
Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
I would say it was a War trophy taken home to the UK.
Serbus,
Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
Times were tough in 1931 & maybe they were cobbling anything & everything just to get some bread money.
Serbus,
Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 870 Likes: 38
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 870 Likes: 38 |
Photo request:
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,985 Likes: 894
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,985 Likes: 894 |
I would say it was a War trophy taken home to the UK.
Serbus,
Raimey rse I don’t believe your typical English soldier was permitted to return from the battle with firearms. Only citizen soldiers could do that. Best, Ted
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,857 Likes: 384
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,857 Likes: 384 |
It could be someone wanted a purdey action gun at a lower price and no ejectors would also add to my theory.it could have been an English man without deep pockets hard to tell,also if a small rural English gunmaker uses outside workers to complete the gun ?is it a " guild gun"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
I would say it was a War trophy taken home to the UK.
Serbus,
Raimey rse I don’t believe your typical English soldier was permitted to return from the battle with firearms. Only citizen soldiers could do that. The Brits had Ferlach, issuing House numbers for makers after WWII and the fire bombing efforts. So, just like American GIs, I do not see why War Trophy guns were not brought home them passed to the appropriate proof facility to be compliant. Prove me wrong, Please. Serbus, Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228
Sidelock
|
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 11,122 Likes: 228 |
Since the tubes & water-table wear the same serial number, I would say it was cobbled together in the early 1930s and that the Krupp tubes are original for that serial number sequence. I will work on the worn German marks but I do not see any that would pair with the Belgian Perron, etc on the water-table. Serbus, Raimey rse
|
|
|
|
|