doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com J.P. Clabrough-Gunsmith???

Anyone have any info on the above gunsmith. The gun is a DB 12ga. coach gun with twist steel barrels. Fully engraved with mule ears vs rabbit ears. Don't know about proofs. Looks to be Belgium.

Thanks

Ernie

Their guns range from basic to almost best. (I've never seen a best). I've owned a very nice 16ga sidelock.

Thanks Mike- Is this a gunsmith or a Company and any idea of when they were in business??

Ernie

Ernie,

John Plumb Clabrough was an English maker. About 1862 he emigrated to San Francisco and worked as a gunsmith for Wilson & Evans and then, from 1864 to 1866, for Robert Liddle & Co.

In 1867 he opened his own business sharing a shop with a jeweller at 630 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.

In the 1876 JP Clabrough became ill. In 1877 gunsmith William Golcher, of St Paul, MN, was in England with his mother. He and Clabrough met and a deal followed. William Golcher was the son of gunsmith James Golcher of Philadelphia who had immigrated from Straffordshire where his family, under his brother Joseph, ran a gun lock making business.

Upon his return to the states, William, who had retired from his gun business, set out for San Francisco. Liking what he saw, he rebrokered the deal with Clabrough. William then set up his sons with running the San Francisco operation.

The last Golcher, Benned M Golcher, to run the business retired in 1949. Over the years, the business moved more heavily into fishing and general outfitting. In part the fishing was a natural move, as William had been a commissioner in MN and is credited with stocking several lakes with trout. One grandson became an award winning fly casting champion.

Clabrough was a business man from a family of gunsmiths. He made guns to meet the market. Some were low end, basic hunting guns. Some were much more. He never produced a "best" gun, but some are very handsome today.

The guns changed under the Golcher's. In part because the times and tech changed. We begin to find engraving more illustrative of American hunting. A broader array of options were offered. The Golcher's were much more in tune with their American competitors.

Ernie, if you can, please post images of your gun. There those here that may be able to help date it.

Pete

I have a J P Clabrough 12ga, 28" Damascus SLNE @ 6lb 14oz, ¼ choke in both bbls. I shoot this gun as well or better than any gun I ever owned for quail or other upland use. Used 1oz, 1150fps loads @ about 7500 psi.
PS; It has Birmingham black powder proof marks.

Ernie

Is this the gun that is on the Gunbroker?
The gun have 20 inch barrels most likly cut
I have 3 J.P. Clabrough. 2 are Damascus and one is Steel.
none of tham are 20 inches long (short)
Casey

Toby Barclay, UK dealer, bought a 10 bore SLE Claybrough at the Southern SxS. He took it back to the UK for a makeover: browning, bore hone, stock bending, refinish and trip to the proof house. 32" damascus barrels around 10-11 lbs, lots of US drop 3 1/2" at least. Definitely British made by proofs, but dimensioned for the US market at the time.
The butt plate said "The Quail Gun".
There must have been some BIG quail in California in the late 1800s.

Joe

All of the Clabrough guns that I am aware of were produced in Birmingham. Even after the Golcher's took over, it is not clear how much was done in the states if anything. Dad was the gunsmith, William, not the sons or grandsons.

The only images I have seen of William Golcher guns have Birmingham proofs. At least 1 of his brother's, Thomas L Golcher, guns has them, while another does not.

Joe, I have seen Clabrough guns wind up back in London at Sotherby's.

For a good article and some pictures of a T.L Golcher gun, see this issue of SSM. SDH did a nice write up on it.








Pete

The Clabrough family of gunmakers was based in Birmingham:-
Clabrough, Joseph, Gun and pistol maker.
1868-1885, 5, New Buildings, Price Street.
1885-1900, 60, Aston Road, North.
Clabrough Brothers,1877-1892 8,Whitall Street,
Clabrough Brothers,J.P.
1882-1892 71/2 St; Marys Row.
Clabrough & Johnstone,J.P.
1894-1915 71/2 St; Marys Row.
1915-1930,s 16&17 Lower Loveday Street.
Clabrough,s primary market was North America,The base of their sales operations was,San Fransisco,California. In 1882 Golcher joined the company first as the manager of the San Francisco store, later he became a partner. It is reported that the first gun bearing the name Golcher was made in 1892.
The Clabrough and Golcher store together with the inventory was destroyed by fire following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The Golcher family reopened the business and it is believed to have continued in operation until 1957.
Many Claborough guns have been seen in Canada by the writer. The best J. P. Clabrough gun that I have owned was #5110 a 12,G bar action hammer gun. This gun incorporated a "clover leaf" rib extension,[Similar concept to the W.R. dolls head.]and featured top lever opening. This gun was profusely engraved with game scenes and fine scroll, truly a best gun in every respect.
For a comprehensive review of the history of Clabrough & Golcher the book by Lawrence P.Shelton is recommended.

Roy,

Do you have a source for the 1882 dating? In the Nov 1977 Gun Report, Lawrence Sheldon gives a date of 1878 with a purhcase of half interest in 1883. I am not sure of his sources.

Thanks,

Pete