12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

When most Americans think about hunting in the UK, fancy estates, titles, and big bills come to mind. But not everyon in the UK was an aristocrat or rich. Everyday sports-people also found time for the field. When they did, they carried doubles like the one you see here.

This SxS is by John Harper, a gunmaker who used to be located in Birmingham, England. Harper opened a shop in 1902 and his business was in operation until 1975. From what I can tell, most of his trade was in good quality boxlocks, sort of the meat-and-potatoes of the English shotgun business. Doubles like these were great deals when they were made 80 years ago. Today, the same is still true.

Even though this shotgun has been on the market before, it’s still a great deal at its current price ($3,295).

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

JOHN HARPER 12 GA BLE: Serial # 14XX, circa about 1920′s. John Harper specialized in making guns for others such as James Woodward and W.R. Pape. An exceptional well kept light wgt (6.7 Lbs.), BL Ejector with 28″ barrels retaining 98% blue, mint, mirror bores choked IC / F, nitro proofed 1 1/8 oz, with 2 3/4″ chambers and rib extension with Greener x-bolt. The nicely scroll engraved receiver retains about 80% original case colors with the floor plate and TG 90% blue. The well figured, dark streaked SG / Spl wood with excellent crisp checkering shows only the most minor handling marks and retains 97% finish. Serrated original BP, vacant silver oval and push button FE release. An elegant collector/shooter. Price $3,295

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

12 gauge John Harper Boxlock Double Barrel Shotgun

Hardcore Parker collectors love to own more than just Parker shotguns. They also look for catalogs and postcards from the gunmaker, as well as other items manufactured by the Parker Bros. company. Below are a handful of these items on Ebay now.

ORIGINAL PARKER GUN CLOCK INTERMITTENT , click for listing

1923 The Parker Gun catalog, on Ebay now. Click for listing.

ORIGINAL PARKER GUN BELL CLOCK, click for listing

PARKER GUN ORIGINAL POST CARD, click for listing

PARKER GUN ORIGINAL 1930 SALES CATALOG, click for listing

PARKER GUN ORIGINAL 1930 SALES CATALOG. click for listing

I always enjoy watching a great bird dog do its thing. In this video, you can see Silverthorn’s Emma, a Springer Spaniel out of Silverthorn Gundogs in northwestern, PA, do just that. I love her energy & enthusiasm. She’s the perfect partnership, and you can see how fun she’s having in the field.

Silverthorn Emma from Adam Reese on Vimeo.

Along with this 20g A.H. Fox, there a bunch of nice looking shotguns coming up this Saturday, Jun 15, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, PA. Here are the ones that caught my eye.

Browning Superposed Diana O/U 20 GA Shotgun

Browning Superposed Diana O/U 20 GA Shotgun:  Manufacture date: 1962. Serial #: 25309. Barrel length: 26″. Factory engraving and signed by Browning, master engraver, “M. Magis”. Frame is fully engraved with depictions of pheasants, ducks, game birds, and rabbits. Incredible Turkish Walnut stock and fore end with nice checkering . Estimate: $10,000.00 – $15,000.00

Remington M32, 30″ bbls, double triggers

Remington M32 12 GA Shotgun: Serial #: 677. Barrel length: 30″. Chamber length: 2 – 3/4″. Choke dimension: M-Im. Length of pull: 14 – 1/2″. Drop on the heel: 2 – 1/4″. Drop at toe: 1 – 1/2″. Remington trap grade with recoil pad Bluing thinning on receiver barrels retain good bluing. Wood has a few handling. Estimate: $300.00 – $500.00

Savage-Fox Sterlingworth 16 GA SxS Shotgun: Serial #: 369643. Barrel length: 28″. Chamber length: 2 – 3/4″. Choke dimension: F-M. Length of pull: 14″. Drop on the heel: 2 – 3/4″. Vivid case coloring and barrel bluing is excellent. Mechanically fine with very few scratches on stock. Blued trigger shows a few scratches. Estimate: $400.00-500.00

16 gauge Fox Sterlingworth Double Barrel Shotgun

Parker VH 12 GA SxS Shotgun. 32″ bbls.

Parker VH 12 GA SxS Shotgun: Serial #: 141071. Barrel length: 32″. Chamber length: 2 – 3/4″. Length of pull: 14 – 1/2″. Drop on the heel: 1 – 3/4″. Concave rib Parker barrels center white gear. Small spot of rust on rig and lever retains a right position. Vivid case coloring still remains on receiver with good. Estimate: $1,000.00 – $1,500.00

A.H. Fox CE Grade 20 GA Double Barrel Shotgun.

Here’s your chance to pick up a rare double by one of America’s most collectible gunmakers. This A.H. Fox CE 20 gauge is coming up on Saturday, Jun 15, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, PA.

Fox’s Cs were mid-grade shotguns, a little fancy and sort of affordable. Finding one in 20 gauge is not an easy feat, and I bet this one will well above the estimate. Here are the full details on this SxS from the auctioneer:

A.H. Fox CE Grade 20 GA Double Barrel Shotgun.

Lot 174: A.H. Fox CE Grade 20 GA Double Barrel Shotgun: Serial #: 202315. Manufactured date: 1910. Barrel length: 26″. Chamber length: 2-1/2″. Choke dimension: M & IC. Length of pull: 14″. Drop on the heel: 2-1/2″. Drop on the toe: 1-1/2″. Excellent shiny bores with a few frecklings of rust on barrels. Receiver shows trace of case coloring. Exceptional example of an “Ansley Fox” made in Philadelphia. Chromux fluid compressed steel. Barrels not factory length. Originality: 95%.
Condition (Fine). Estimate: $2,500-$4,000

A.H. Fox CE Grade 20 GA Double Barrel Shotgun.

Here’s a quick guide from Paul West, gunmaker act London’s William & Son.

Guide To Cleaning Your Barrels from William & Son on Vimeo.

12 gauge Webley & Scott Model 700 double barrel shotgun on Gunbroker.com

If there’s a side-by-side that you could call the perfect starter double, Webley & Scott’s 700 is the gun. A basic boxlock built on the tried and trued Anson & Deeley action, 700s were made for decades.

They’ve always been great guns, and if you’re looking for a solid, reliable English shotgun that’s on the affordable side, it’s a great choice.

The one you see here, looks like it can be bought for $3,000 – a great price for a solid Birmingham boxlock in nearly-new condition. If this shotgun looks good to you, get on it now. The auction ends Wednesday, 6/12/2013 @ 12:07:43 PM ET.

12 gauge Webley & Scott Model 700 double barrel shotgun on Gunbroker.com

Here’s more about it from the seller:

Webley & Scott 700 series 12ga 28″ barrels mod/full: in about 93% condition with a small area of freckling on right barrel. LOP is 15″ to front trigger w/ original Silvers pad. Case colors are strong.

Here’s a nice video showing a bit about gunmakers Dickson & McNaughton and UK gundog training. It’s well produced and definitely worth a watch. Check it out now.

Gun Dog from Ella Nodwell on Vimeo.

John Dickson Hammer Toplever Sidelock Double Rifle .500 BPE

John Dickson Hammer Toplever Sidelock Double Rifle .500 BPE: Circa 1875, 28″ original damascus barrels engraved “John Dickson & Son” on the left barrel and “65 Princes Street Edinburgh”. 14 1/2″ LOP over a checkered butt with engraved heel and toe plates, 9 lbs. even, extractor, double triggers, pistol grip with engraved steel grip cap, file cut flat rib with one standing and one folding leaf marked 100 and 200, long post bead front sight, stalking safeties, backaction island sidelocks with fine scroll engraving and engraved “John Dickson & Son” on both sides. Excellent condition and we believe all original and likely original finishes, great bores and tight action. Comes in period leather case with maker’s label (missing handle and straps), period sling with correct connectors for the sling eyes and a labeled box of period Kynoch .500 BPE ammo. Price: $13,950.00

20g W.W. Greener FH35 double barrel shotgun, excellent original condition

W.W. Greener, FH 35, 20ga. 28” barrels choked IC/IM. Outstanding Greener FH35: Choked IC/IM.  Outstanding Greener FH35. Very rare top safety with AE. Retains 99.9% original color case hardening, not refinished.  Double trigger, semi-pistol grip, leather covered pad, splinter forend.  Nearly perfect wood, perfect checkering, 100% blue.  Very seldom encountered, light weight.  An outstanding collector gun. 14” x 1 ½” x 2 ½”. 5 lbs., 6oz. Price: $12,750

BERETTA EXPRESS RIFLE 9.3X74R CALIBER: 24″ Bbbl with raised rib and fitxed sights, color case hardened action, double triggers, ejectors, 14 7/8″ LOP, 98% Overall. Price: $4,699.00

BERETTA EXPRESS RIFLE 9.3X74R CALIBER

THOMAS BLAND 12- 3″ MAG- APPEARS UNFIRED- BOXLOCK EJECT- 30″ Bbls- 98% ORIG CASE COLORS- APPEARS UNFIRED

THOMAS BLAND 12- 3″ MAG- APPEARS UNFIRED- BOXLOCK EJECT- 30″ Bbls- 98% ORIG CASE COLORS- APPEARS UNFIRED: #18810, Thomas Bland & Son, West Strand, London WC2: A 12 Bore Original 3″ Magnum Boxlock Ejector Model Brent Made in 1957 with 30″ Ejector Dovetail Lump barrels with rib extension third bite at .729 .020 & .035 (Mod. & Full), Original 3″ chambers, Birmingham proof at 3 1/2 Tons per square inch and 3″, It then was proved again at 1200 BAR in 1992 and has the proper reproof marks, Double triggers, Splinter forend with an Anson release, Open pistol grip stock at 14 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/8″ over a 7/8″ pad, Cast-off for the right hand, 7 lbs. 12 oz., 35% engraving coverage, Retains 98% original case colors, 99% original barrel blue, The wood is 99% original, The checkering remaining at 100%, The bores are new.
Price: $2,850.00

L C SMITH, HUNTER ARMS, IDEAL GRADE, 20 GAUGE, 28″ BARRELS

L C Smith Ideal Grade 20 Gauge Automatic Ejectors:  28″ BARRELS, F&M, EXCELLENT BLUE, MIRROR BORES.  AUTOMATIC EJECTORS, MARKED 2 3/4″.  FEATHERWEIGHT FRAME, TRACES OF CASE COLOR.  PISTOL GRIP STOCK, SPLINTER FOREARM, NICELY FIGURED WOOD, EXCELLENT CHECKERING.  GRIP CAP CHIPPED, ORIGINAL HAWKIN RECOIL PAD.  HIGH DIMENSIONS – 1 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ X 13 3/4″, 5 POUNDS 14 OUNCES.  Price: $1,850.00