Product Details
JEFFRIES (NORWICH)
A RARE JEFFRIES 1862 (SECOND PATENT) 12-BORE SIDE-OPENING UNDERLEVER BAR-IN-WOOD PINFIRE HAMMERGUN, serial no. 188,
29 7/8in. bold damascus barrels, rib engraved 'JEFFRIES PATENT. NORWICH No. 188', and with starburst detailing at the pin apertures, George Jeffries patent 'new centre fire side motion breech-loading' action, patent no. 3300 of 9th December 1862, use number 188, forward mounted rotary-underlever, carved serpentine fences, bolstered cam bolt housing, bar-in-wood, non-rebounding sidelocks with acanthus engraved dolphin hammers of pinfire form, the action, lockplates and furniture engraved with scrolling acanthus motifs, internally the rotating forked arm engraved with an elaborate starburst, the underside of the fore-end with barrel release crossbolt (light damage) and escutcheon fitting and ornate fully scroll engraved finial, 14 3/8in. stock (cracked and with repairs at hand) including buttplate, weight 7lb. 6oz.
Provenance: The second patent 'side motion' gun was well regarded in its day as being a close competitor to the drop down snap-action guns being developed at the time and can certainly be regarded as the most commercially successful side-opening gun in the United Kingdom. The design won a gold medal for 'excellency of workmanship and construction' at the 1870 Workman's Exhibition and Jeffries produced them for a period of nearly ten years. His robust advertising campaign for his invention cited the gun as having 'Five times the resisting surface of any double grip drop guns, Two hard pieces of tempered steel working together in the vital parts never before attained. Quick as any snap gun. The only sporting breech loader invented in Great Britain. It can be made to use either pin or central fire combined.'
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Estimate £700-900
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament