Borrowed from: http://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/show...-shotgun/page2
Understand this of the British gun trade. For every one gun made in house (lock, stock and barrel), a hundred were assembled by re sellers from parts sourced from different suppliers and then sold under their own name; and a thousand were assembled the same way but not sold under a specific name. If however you, as a dealer in guns; ordered enough of them, the maker/assembler would stamp your name on the locks and/or the rib. In this regard: Wesley Richards; that well known gun 'maker' actually never made guns; but had guns made for them, which were sold under their own name. So too, WM Rawbone in the Cape, Evans of London etc. Even our own famous Botha gunsmith family, never made guns in house after the abolition of slavery at the Cape (Yes, the slaves 'made' (assembled) the guns; oubaas sat on the stoep drinking coffee!) The Botha family has a sweetheart deal with Greener.
It follows that the guns made in house (Holland & Holland, Purdey and others), were the best quality and the most valuable. Those guns assembled and finished in house; a little less valuable and the rest: these varied in quality from the very good to the shockingly poor.
The fact that a gun passed proof, says very little other that it will not burst in your hands - at least, not right away. If you read Greener's book: The Gun and its Development; you will see that barrels submitted for proof, often did not pass proof; ending up with bulges etc. These were then hammered back into shape and re submitted for proof. If it passed, then the barrel blank was worked down (shaped into a barrel tube, final bored, polished and finished).
Britain was then possessed of many colonies; where the need for guns was near insatiable. Here (in the Colonies); you could purchase guns of the highest quality, and also of the lowest; depending on what you could afford. For a few, guns were things of beauty. For others, it was a tool. As long as it worked, it sufficed. Most guns sold here were the 'no name' brands; guns commonly referred to as 'Trader's' or: Guns made for the Trade. Sometimes; collectors get very excited when they come across a gun stamped with the name of a local re seller; like: Prince Vincent and Company; T W Beckett and Co. etc; thinking they have stumbled on a rare and unique piece. Not so; these were Trade guns; ordered in enough quantity so that the seller could have his name stamped on the gun.
Notwithstanding, I have seen (and owned) some Trade guns of superb quality and guns which have been restored back to near perfect shooting condition. For instance: a personal favorite is a BSA 'Made for the Trade' 16 bore single percussion gun that came into the shop in a box and could be restored to a thing of real beauty. It is the first gun I take when going fur and feather hunting.
As to cartridges: During the black powder era; most all cartridges (for 12 bore) were of 65 mm length. However, the chambers of these old guns were bored out to 70 mm and beyond. This was to allow space for the 65 mm cartridge's crimp to unroll and still fit in the chamber. Remember, shotgun cartridges (most all of them) head space on the base and not on a shoulder (rifle bullets) or the rim of the cartridge (like most pistol bullets). But, as time went by, 65 mm cartridges became scarce and not always available where these guns were used. Also; with the introduction of nitro cartridges; black powder cartridges; or those down loaded to black powder pressures; began disappearing from dealer's shelves. Now, if the only shells available for your gun were the longer 70 mm nitro cartridges; and they fitted; why not?
A testament to the quality of these guns, even the poorest made of them; was the fact that these guns could be fed these longer and more powerful shells, and still managed to keep together - at least, most of them. However, when these longer shells' crimp unrolled/unfolded in the chamber and there was no space to accommodate the 'unrolled' part; this formed a barrel constriction and a resultant increase in recoil: felt on the shoulder and seen on the action and stock when these were hammered all to hell.
BTW: 65 mm cartridges loaded for black powder pressures; can still be found; but they are expensive.
As to your gun: A 'good' maker or a re seller of good guns; will stamp their name on either the lock, the barrel rib, or both. The mark you see on the barrel flats (under the barrel), is usually the barrel maker's mark and has little bearing on who assembled or sold the gun. Marks stamped on the barrels themselves (in the position you describe); usually refer to terms such as 'fluid steel' best laminate' etc; which is like adding a 'GT' badge to a car. Basically, marketing BS. Twist steel is just a cheaper way of making Damasucs; and favored by the British for making 'lesser' barrels.
So, one can be fairly certain that your gun is not one from the 'bespoke' makers; and as such, not a terribly valuable gun at that.
As to restoration: We know the stock is broken/cracked; vide the copper plate repair. Don't for any favor, try and remove this plate. You'll find the stock crumbled to dust underneath. Besides, the plate (it appears well done), adds to the character of the gun. (After all, Selous had his guns 'strengthened' in the same way.).
The barrels need to be examined carefully: for pitting, dents and also for the soundness of the ribs. This unfortunately, cannot be done from photographs. Then the tightness of the action. Take the gun and remove the wood fore piece. Now, try and move/twist the barrels and action. If play is present; you have a problem. If the play is excessive (more than .01 mm), you have a major problem. This play can be repaired if slight; but not if play is excessive. Besides; a tight fitting barrel/action is one of the few safety features of these guns. Now, if your chambers have bulged a little as well (common); you could have some combustion gas come your (face) way. Not good.
As to cost: Double gun work is of the most expensive gun work there is. Back in the day, most all parts were hand finished and there are no parts on the shelf to replace worn or broken parts. These have to be hand made (It is not a Toyota!) And, double/shotgun gunsmiths don't work for tuppence a day anymore.
On the face of it, I doubt that the money you'll spend on repair/restoration, would ever come back to you in terms of value. If however, this gun is of a significant historical value, then you could consider it. Otherwise, if the gun is in a poor condition; it may be best to retire it.
Hope this helps ...
