doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bentley & Playfair Birmingham Gunmakers

Tim, what a fine gun. You are fortunate to have it. Just a small percentage of Bentley and Playfair, and Hollis Bentley and Playfair guns are marked with their own names. Attached is a bit from their ca. 1911 Catalog showing offerings for others in the trade to finish up. Note the multitude of quality offerings and the action types. They seem able to take barreled actions to any % of completion desired by the buyer. Also, I find it interesting that those breech ball carvings found on a few high end guns, maybe like Woodward, are called Claw Fences.

HI Daryl, thanks. The Hollis, Bentley & Playfair shotgun is only marked with their name on the top rib, Serial # marked on the trigger guard, receiver and forend. I had not known that Samuel G. Wright (later S. Wright & Sons), and his father, and eldest son Jack were all working for Hollis, Bentley & Playfair during the period these shotguns were being made there. S. Wright & Sons Very interesting. I believe both companies built the similar sideplated boxlocks for Charles Hellis at one time or another.



Image for the aforementioned shotgun taken from the 1911 Bentley & Playfair Wholesale Catalogue, Model Quality No. 50; shotgun pictured above is similar but without the Intercepting Safety Sears and London Nitro Proof (shotgun has Birmingham Proof instead).

This is a very informative thread. Thanks for posting.

I also have a Bentley & Playfair Ltd - A Double Rifle. It was re-finished and given as a gift.


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/375bentley-0.jpg