doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E & G Higham

I have a 12 ga dmascus hammergun with non rebounding hammers marked E & G Higam. I rember some discussion about George Higam & Sons and was wondering if this was an earlier business he was involved with near Birmingham. Has Birmingham proofs 18-4 BNP(Crown on top) 12-65 850 Bar. Thanks for any info. Dwight

E&G Higham, Liverpool, Lancashire. listed as active 1857 -1869.The Higham family of gunmakers also had business locations in Warrington, Lancashire, Oswestry, Shropshire, and Welshpool,in Wales. George G. Higham was listed at; 3 Bailey street, Oswestry, and in Church Street, Welshpool in 1887.
Your gun was proof tested in Birmingham, 1994 or later,because this is the date when the use of the Bar pressure measurements was introduced. The marks on your gun should indicate reproof.
Some records show that Higham was in business in Warrington as early as 1795.

Thanks for that info. There is no indication on the flats about a reproof. I thought there should be something more so it kind of confused me about the proof.

Your gun was made at a time when the only powder available was black.It follows that the origional proof was for black powder. The 850 bar proof mark is for a Nitro powder test, applicable from 1994 to the present date. As such it is classified as a reproof.
In the Birmingham rules of proof applicable from 1954- 1994 reproof marks included the letter "R" surmounted by a crown. I am not certain as to whether or not the Birmingham proof house continues to use this mark when a gun is reproof tested from black to nitro. It could be that the mark is reserved for guns that are retested because of barrel wear/ enlagement[ ie; For a 12G.having .729 origional bore size,retested at .740 due to wear].

I knew that name sounded familiar and couldn't quite place it. I have an E & G Higham also . . . well, I have the left lock from one anyway (hammer gun); i have no idea where the rest of the gun is :-)

When I am bored on long conference calls, I play with the thing. Some people have "stress balls" or toy pens to twiddle with on calls; I have an E & G Higmham lock.

Ken

- I can see the "Stanton & Co" stamp on the interior of the lock. The engraving is done in a very nice tight scroll.

I have an Higham & son 16 bore pinfire with birmingham proof marks, do not know if any relation or not would like to find out.
Take care pedler

This gun also has the Crown over an R on Brl flats which I take it must have been back for repair at one time. Patent # 2396 1871 on the action flats. The lugs on this gun do not show on the bottom of the action. Looks like the whole gun was restored and the whole gun looks really nice. One exception is a repair to left hammer which I may have to have thumb place engraving worked on since it doen not have much grip left.

Patent #2396 of 1871 was held by J. Hall for a barrel bolting system very like the classic Purdey double bite. Details of the patent are to be found in the British Shotgun VOL;2, pages 41&42
This patent date is an indication of the date your gun was made.