doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Cabelas mystery gun

Hi all, longtime lurker, infrequent poster. Had a question for the group...

I was looking for a relatively inexpensive 20ga English boxlock for bird hunting, and I found this fairly plain 20ga on the Cabela's website.I went ahead and had it sent it my local store to take a closer look at it, and if I like it I'll probably go ahead and keep it since it's not much more expensive than a plain AyA or Uggie these days, and it's got nice wood, which I'm a sucker for. But I can find almost nothing on a J. Hobson online, nor can I find anything in the archives here, so I thought I'd ask if anyone might be familiar with this maker? Any info would be greatly appreciated. All I could manage to dig up was that he was also a cutler, and died in 1945. Found pics of two other shotguns online, both 12s and both a little nicer, finish-wise, than this one.

J. Hobson

weight is listed as 4 pounds ??!! that is hard to believe.

nice looking gun

Yeah, I have learned to pay very little attention to the listed weights, measurements, etc. on the Cabela's website. They're almost always wrong, sometimes wildly so.

Looks GREAT ! Nice find. Never have seen cabelas guys get a weight correct so don’t worry about the 4lbs thing.

I would probably take a chance on that gun. However, I don't think Bass Pro can measure bores or chambers or send pictures of barrel flats for proof marks.

Yeah, I'm just assuming it's a 2.5-inch chamber, and hoping I can maybe sorta translate or semi-understand a little of the proof marks once I inspect it. I'm no gunsmith, by any stretch, but I've learned through an expensive early lessons to always spend a lot of time looking guns over in the store when I go in to pick them up. Still rolling the dice, of course. But that's also kind of the fun. Until it isn't...

I recently asked Cabelas/Bass to snap of a photo of the barrel flats of a Lang hammer gun they had for sale. Took some doing but they posted the photo and few others I asked for a couple of three days later. None were to clear but legible. The person I spoke with did not grasp the difference between NP and BP proof marks nor the meaning of 13/1 or 14/1 and 18.9 and 18.5 as stamped on the barrel flats. I passed on the gun.

Have you considered what you will do about a repair on such a gun, should one be needed? There will be zero chance of finding a replacement part. It will have to be made by a very talented 'smith, and it will be very expensive.

Not trying to dissuade you from the purchase, just mentioning possible future events. I'm an optimist, so I'd probably buy it too if I wanted it. But, reality should not be denied.

I recently had a friend purchase a really nice Miroku 20 ga. sxs from them. Upon inspecting the gun at the store, was told that he couldn't try the triggers because they would not allow the trigger lock to be removed. Although they reassured him it was working properly, he discovered that the safety would not work on the front trigger! He returned it for a repair and is still waiting.
Their "safety" policies are very restrictive! Be cautious!
Karl

Nice looking gun. I would take a chance on one like that too.

Vintage double guns are a lot like women. There can be a lot of pain and heartache hidden behind a beautiful exterior. Difference is that, usually, it's easier to return a gun.

It's a nice looking box lock in pretty good condition, and a decent price. I wish I could tell you something about the maker.

You are probably aware of what is involved in an inspection before buying any shotgun. If you can't dry fire it with snap caps in the store to check trigger pulls and mechanical function, know their return policy, and cut the ties on the triggers as soon as you leave the store, so you can walk right back in if there are any issues.

One other thing when you find an interesting gun at a decent price is to do your due diligence as quickly and discreetly as possible, and never mention to anyone on any firearms forum where you saw it, let alone post a link. Why? Because if it is a really good deal, you are likely to find someone will happily buy it right out from under you.

In fact, I see in the description that this gun is "Out of Stock", so unless you had a hold or deposit on it, it may already be gone.

Grok:

**J. Hobson** was a British gunmaker and cutler based in Leamington (now Royal Leamington Spa), Warwickshire, England. He operated primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, producing sporting shotguns, particularly double-barrel side-by-side models typical of the era.

### Key Details on History and Operations
- **Location and Trade**: John Hobson (full name appears in records as John Hobson or similar) described himself as a "Gun Maker and Cutler" in local directories and censuses. Leamington was not a major center for British gunmaking (unlike London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh), so his firm was a smaller, provincial operation. He likely focused on bespoke or semi-custom shotguns for local clientele, including game shooting enthusiasts.
- **Time Period**: Active around the 1890s–1910s or slightly later. Census records from 1901 show him as a widower running the business, with family assistance (e.g., a sister-in-law helping in the household). Guns marked "J. Hobson Gun Maker Leamington" date from the early 20th century, including examples from around 1910–1920s.
- **Products**: He made double-barrel shotguns, often hammerless ejector or non-ejector models chambered for 12-gauge or similar, with 2½–2¾ inch chambers. Barrels were typically marked on the rib with "J. HOBSON GUN MAKER LEAMINGTON." These were engraved to varying degrees (some with scroll or game scene engraving) and built on traditional British boxlock or sidelock actions. They were solid, workmanlike guns rather than ultra-premium "best" quality from houses like Purdey or Holland & Holland.
- **Examples in Collections/Auctions**: Surviving guns appear in modern auctions (e.g., Rock Island Auction Company has listed engraved British double-barrel shotguns marked "J. HOBSON GUN MAKER LEAMINGTON," often with leather cases). They are collectible as provincial British pieces but not as rare or high-value as those from major London makers.

### Context in British Gunmaking
British gunmaking in this period was dominated by London firms (e.g., Boss & Co. from 1812, Purdey, Rigby) and Birmingham trade gunmakers who supplied actions/parts to smaller shops. Provincial makers like Hobson often assembled guns using Birmingham components (e.g., from firms like Webley or Greener influences) while adding their own finishing, engraving, and fitting. Hobson's work fits this pattern—reliable sporting arms for the British countryside rather than export or royal patronage.

Little detailed company history survives (no major archives or books dedicated to the firm), likely due to its small scale and regional focus. No evidence suggests it continued as a major brand beyond the early 20th century; it probably faded with the decline in small independent gun shops post-WWI and economic changes.

If you're referring to a specific gun (e.g., serial number, photos, or markings), more details could help narrow down its exact production era or features.

On the gun: I don't buy the 4# weight either.

If the barrels are 27", the stock looks short - under 14". Most English sub-gauge guts were stocked for women or kids...I'd check it. I'll SWAG it when I get to my computer.

...but it's really nice looking and nicely refinished. Great wood on the stock.

Fine looking firearm. Shortish stock can be handled. I might bite the bullet but not at the risk of divorce. Pictures of water table and barrel flats could help tell more of the story. Thanks.

Stock is ~13 13/16" by my seat of the pants/Adobe Illustrator measuring system, which it usually pretty close. 13 7/16" to the end of the wood - 3/8" pad.

Agree with Keith, it's sold. Disagree with Geoff, don't believe it's been refinished, really don't know of any reason, based on the photos, why you would say that...
JR

Thanks so much for all the information, everyone. It's been helpful. And yes, I am the one who bought it, so I'm eager to take a look in person when it gets in. If the stock isn't abnormally short I think I can deal with that. I'm not sure if I overpaid for it or not, but it seems to be in good shape on the outside, and if it does pass muster I think it'll be really cool to have a gun like that, with such an obscure, provincial English history, killing bobs in Oklahoma a century later. If I'm honest that's one of the main reasons I prefer the vintage stuff.

If you like it and can make it work for you, then you didn’t overpay.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

It seemed to me, that the trade name built British 12 gauge side-by-side peaked at around 3200 a few years back.

So if you get a functional 20 gauge substantially below that, you’re not going to get hurt unless it’s got problems that would warrant returning it to the seller.

$3200? For an English, 12 gauge boxlock?

I think you are about 1/3rd high on that. 20 gauge, throws a wrench in that guesstimate.

Best,
Ted

I saw this thread and am curious how you made out? Have you shot it? Is it 2 1/2 chambers? Hopefully, this was a great find. I have noticed that Cabelas/BP prices on the used guns have gone up in the last couple of months. Some good buys show up, and good stuff that gets turned in. So, depending on the value they paid to the trade, it gets priced.

John, you don't think those case colors are original do you?

Sorry, meant to follow up on this post and flat forgot. I ended up passing on the gun, for a few reasons. First and most pressing reason was that it was off-face. With the forend off there was a very noticeable wobble. Secondly, it had pretty obviously been redone. Looked much different from the pics. The barrel blue and case colors were, to my eyes, simply too new for either to be original when compared to the engraving, which didn't match the crispness of the case colors and blueing The stock had been refinished as well. I also suspect the barrels had been honed. The bores were like mirrors and although I obviously couldn't measure barrel wall thickness, I was worried that perhaps they'd been hogged out because they were super thin at the muzzle and very light. And finally, it was supposed to be cased and there was no case shipped with it. A minor thing compared to everything else, but it still pissed me off. Other than that it was lovely, beautifully balanced gun and I really, really wanted to take it home (yep, 2.5-inch chambers) but in the end I had too many warning bells going off in my head.

Good old Cabelas.....never fails!

Good luck in your quest.....try Hill Rod and Gun

Greg

I ordered a drilling from a Cabela's somewhere, can't remember where. After going over the drilling it was immediately obvious we had different ideas of condition. It too was off face quite a bit. The the store owner who was doing the transfer said 'wait! That frame is cracked!!' Sure enough. Where the water tables meet the frame had a crack about 1/4 in. in front of the standing breech. I've not had much success trying to deal with other Cabela's in person either.

What blows my mind is that knowing the issue with the gun being off face, my local Bass Pro where I had it shipped put it right back out for sale, and apparently it sold to someone else. Three out of the last four shotguns I tried buying from Cabela's/Bass Pro had issues, including one that was shipped literally with zero packaging, as in they stuck the gun in a cardboard shipper with absolutely no packing material around it. It was just rattling around loose in a cardboard box. Last year I bought a nice 20ga BSS sporter that had a rib so loose I could separate the end of it from the barrel with my fingernail. Two days later it was back on the website. The day they stop free store-to-store shipping and full refunds if you pass on the gun is the day I stop buying used guns from Cabela's/Bass Pro.

All of that makes sense - particularly the refinished part. Colors that bright didn't look right on a gun of that vintage unless it was a never handled safe queen.

That it is off face, and that's not mentioned in the listing for the gun is inexcusable for a company the size of Cabelas.

More like SOP in the big shops.

Hard to get good help these days. 🤭

You were offered “auction” style access and information at premium bricks and mortar pricing. Either is fine, but not together.

Every time I go to Cabela's near me the gun library is locked up. I got tired of driving 40 miles just for that to happen. So I quit going. I realize that it is hard to have somebody just sitting there doing nothing, but they should have someone close by and not have the doors locked and nobody even around. I have too many other opportunities to shop and look for something I want. 👍

Did you consider asking someone to unlock it?