In the most recent DGJ I came across two listings for 20 ga. sidelock OUs made by Wilkes (presumably John) with "one piece" barrels. These guns were being sold "new" and "as new" with a lifetime warranty by the maker. The price was just under $30k.

I wasn't aware that Wilkes currently or previously made OUs (or UOs). Is anyone familiar with these guns? Are these one-offs made by Craig Whitsey?

Thanks in advance, Doverham

I believe that Wilkes started on a run of o/u's in 2002 or thereabouts. They were taken over by Craig Whitsey for finishing.
Craig is a helpful fellow and will give you the full sp on them. So far as I know he is still in darkest Sussex or somewhere like that.

a guy named carl lippard made some of those guns in colorado i think.chuck grace did some stock work for him.all parts were supposed to be interchangeable.

The barrels were made in the good old USA in a cnc shop here in San Diego. Where they were fitted I do not know. It would be interesting to see the action as it may well have been made at the same place. Early in the game a couple of solid barrel guns were shown at Las Vegas but the person stopped coming to vegas about 2 maybe 3 years ago.

Wilkes serial number 15510 was the first of a small run of O/U guns made. I do not know how many in total. That would have been in 2002; they closed up the shop in London in 2003.

In March 2012 Greenes Guns, Virgina were selling one, no serial number given. They claimed it was one of 10 made. Here is their description:

John Wilkes 20ga o/u best quality sidelock - What a fabulous little gun, John Wilkes 20ga best quality o/u 28" single ivory bead, hand filed top rib single trigger, Prince of Wales grip, checkered butt, fabulous French walnut, game forend, these guns are built with vacuum remelted forged steel. Charles Lee engraved (Holland and Holland) in scroll and ribbons, beautiful full 7 pin sidelock, hidden lock pin, reinforced barrel rib Boss), Fabbri nose bite, cocking indicators, French grey receiver, these guns balance dead on and are flawless in fit and finish, just magnificent! Beautiful high dimensions, cased in a custom aluminum vault style case handmade for this gun. $120,000 without engraving for a Fabbri or Boss! This is a lot of gun for the money! Only 10 guns produced! 14 3/4 1 1/2 x 2 checked butt. Price: 29,500.00

I kept copies of the photos they had posted on Guns International and here they are: [url=[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/trw999/media/John%20Wilkes/Wilkes20OU3_zps8c5140ee.jpg.html][/url]]Wilkes O/U[/url]

[url=[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/trw999/media/John%20Wilkes/Wilkes20OU2_zpsdfa17107.jpg.html][/url]]Wilkes O/U 2[/url]

[url=[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/trw999/media/John%20Wilkes/Wilkes20OU1_zpsa4efa2c0.jpg.html][/url]]Wilkes O/U 3[/url]

[url=[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/trw999/media/John%20Wilkes/Wilkes20OU6_zps54c3be38.jpg.html][/url]]Wilkes O/U 4[/url]

Interesting about the one piece barrels. There is another maker in the UK doing that now but apparently there Aren't the first.

Adam

Adam, your thinking of Longthorne - http://www.longthorneguns.com/

Tim

Holy sculpted fences, Batman - that is a sexy gun! Though I am not sure why there is a solid rib between the barrels and a vent rib on top.

Given the action design, I guess it makes sense that Carl Lippard was involved.

In my Wilkes data collection I've just come across a note to myself (I know, it's sad, isn't it?) that says serial nos. 15510-15535 were allocated to a series of over & under shotguns in 2002. I haven't yet checked but my suspicion is that they came from an excellent article on Wilkes by Stephen Grist in DGJ Autumn 2010.

Tim