doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 3" 1 1/2oz Nitro proof

Hi how common are English guns with the 3" 1 1/2oz nitro proof guns? Looking at a Fred'k Williams in not bad condition just curios on the proof marks

Not too common but they're out there.

I wouldn't shoot full power 3" loads out of a vintage gun.

"Waterfowl" guns were certainly popular

Pre-WWI Jeffery's "Long Range" hammerless "Waterfowl" gun was available in 3" chambers that "can be used with from 4-5 drams of black powder and 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 oz. of Shot".



1920s G.E. Lewis & Sons



Major Sir Gerald Burrard, The Modern Shotgun, Volume II, �The Cartridge�, 1955 3rd Revised Edition listed the 12g 3� 1 1/2 oz. 3.57 Dr. Eq. load at Standard Service Pressure of 9,632 psi and Max. Service at 12,320 psi

Waterfowl and pigeon were a very small market. Maybe 10% or even just 5%. They do tend to last longer in better condition. Heavier barrels can stand a lot more cleaning up and they got a lot less overall use. They also are a lot harder to find if you want one. It seems like they quickly get bought because you don�t know how long it will be before the next one comes along. If you like the gun buy the gun as they say. I have limited use for a heavy 12 these days sadly. If they allowed lead shot in classic doubles I�d own several of them. But carrying one for upland shooting does not interest me much.

Hi smle.
To what I see they are not very common & I looked for a long time for a good one.
If you have had that gun in hand & confirmed that it locks up tight, best that you buy it before I do.
I have a Skimmin & Wood in that chambering & proof & love it even though it is heavy.
Like already stated, don't use 3 inch magnum loads in it.
I use up to 36 gram Eley AAA 2 3/4 loads in mine.
You do as you feel safe doing according to the condition of the gun.
O.M

Is there a gun with the word "Wildfowler" stamped on it somewhere? A couple of my buddies have Fox and Elsie heavy doubles with the word wildfowl stamped on them. I have a mental picture of what I thought was one of those two stamped wildfowler. What the heck am I thinking of?...Geo

There are both Fox Sterlingworth Wildfowl model guns, and L C Smith Wildfowl model guns. The Foxes were made from leftover Philadelphia Super Fox parts. They are all 30" or 32" barreled guns, heavy frame just like the Supers.

The Smiths are listed in the books, I am told, as Long Range Wildfowl(s), though I read that one has never surfaced with that complete stamping. Most either say Long Range or Wildfowl.

Your memory serves you well.

SRH

Greener's Far Killer Duck gun.

Not for use with modern 3" cartridges. I have a couple so marked; one by Midland Gun Co. and one by B.S.A. The old English 3" cartridge was 1 1/2 ounce, hence the Proof Mark. Modern 2 3/4" magnums are suitable if the gun is in Proof and in good condition. I still have a few boxes of the old Eley 3" Alphamax and 3" Gastight. They are now really collector's items. Lagopus�..