Product Details
THOMAS G. STYLES
AN ELEGANT AND ORNATE 12-BORE 1883 PATENT BOXLOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 320,
serial number on under rib only, circa 1886/7, 30in. nitro reproved fine damascus barrels (in 2007), the rib engraved 'THOMAS G. STYLES. MAKER. KIDDERMINSTER' and with deeply carved acanthus detailing at the breech end, the tubes with intricately engraved bands of floral and foliate designs at the breech ends, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. full and 3/4 choke, left wall thickness at 19+, W. Anson and J. Deeley patent treble-grip action incorporating improved design of 11th April 1883 of specification no. 1756 A.D.1875 patent, with Westley Richards style toplever, automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, intercepting sears, bold acanthus scroll engraving with scrolling banners to the sides inscribed 'T.G. STYLES', the underside with an oval vignette of a pointer on point, the triggerguard with bolting rabbits, the fences finely carved in high relief with sunflower blooms, retaining traces of original colour-hardening and some renewed finish, 14in. well-figured stock carved at the head with recessed chequered side panels, the hand carved with ornate bordering and recessed chequered panels and with fluted comb detail, the middle of the butt with carved oval borders inset with bunch weave carved designs and including herringbone carved horn buttplate, the fore-end decorated en suite (minor losses at knuckle) with Anson push rod release and ornate steel finial, weight 6lb. 10oz.
Provenance: The vendor has kindly informed us that the gun was made for his Great Great Grandfather, a Mr Thomas Harman-Smith. A jeweller by trade, he owned two large factories in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham around the turn of the last century, Smith & Pepper Ltd. And Smith Ewan & Stylic.
Smith & Pepper, a family run concern until its closure in 1981, sold the factory building to Birmingham City Council who subsequently re-opened the building as 'The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter', preserving the remarkably unchanged interior which provides a 'time capsule' experience of late nineteenth / early twentieth century jewellery making. Living in Green Hall, Birmingham, he was keen sportsman and horse breeder - often naming his horse 'Shirley' after the neighbouring town which had a racecourse and was renowned for hosting a variety of sporting events
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Estimate £1,500-2,000
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act