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I have been out awhile this afternoon looking for some grouse with this George Daw SXS. I did find a couple to get a nice pair and pictures…

Steven Dodd Hughes did a 2 feature article on it for “Shooting Sportsman” several years ago. It is a fabulous article and Steven did a lot of research on the gun and found when it was made and where it was shipped.

Honestly, I can’t remember if he found when it was sleeved, but he found lots of other information on it. There is a spare extractor and 2 spare firing pins under the heel plate, serial numbered to the gun. George Daw was an exceptional gun maker and this is an indication of that work.

I have another Daw underlever that is not nearly as good of condition. Daw guns are very rare and extremely well made guns…

Anyone with more than a passing interest in good double guns cares if a gun is sleeved. Who did the work, and the quality of said work are often the only remaining qualifier of whether a “fine, old, gun” remains, a fine old gun.

Best,
Ted

Of course it has been sleeved! Who cares? Is this the first English gun anyone has ever seen that has been sleeved?

Good grief, what sleeving has to do with the gun is only part of the history, I guess I don’t see what the urgency is to keep questioning that aspect of the gun’s pedigree…

“who did the work?” This in NOT Shrapnel’s lovely Daw hammer gun, but the only sleeving job I have seen (other than early Westley Richards sleeving jobs where they emblazoned their name above the Proof House mandated SLEEVED on the exterior of the breeches) that has been signed by the craftsman who did the job.

Note the tiny E.COOKE stamped over the joint.

Once a sleeved gun has changed hands the information as to who did the work is likely to be lost in the mists of time.

The quality, whether replacement or sleeved barrels has to be judged by straightness, striking down , bore finish and liveliness of the re-barrelled gun.

Here is another Daw of the same decade:

https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/as...123+++1800+&refno=203889&image=3

Here is the series from "Shooting Sportsman"

Amazing, what a survivor! So, tell me about the fluid steel barrels. That's really what prompted my question about the age.

It looks sleeved to me.

I had that notion as well…

Best,
Ted

It was an 1862 patent. I have one but the action must have been bought in by Frederick Gates of Derby and finished by him. The top rib is marked Daw's Patent. I think mine is 1863 vintage. Also Damascus barrelled. Has yours had new steel barrels fitted at some time? Lagopus.....

Shrapnel,
I have a Shooting Sportsman assortment of magazines going back 15, or so, years. When I get the time this, week, I will look to see if I have the article you mentioned.

Shotgunlover: There are a shocking number of guns out there that do not have the Scott spindle and the Purdy double underbite. Many of them are even well-made guns and some of them are actually English guns of good quality. I know you already know that because, like you, I had this realization myself several years ago. I don't know about you, but it was actually something of an epiphany for me as well. "Good" is evidently not the enemy of "best" in guns either it seems.

GEORGE H. DAW
A 12-BORE 1862 PATENT 'DAW'S PATENT CENTRAL FIRE' PUSH-FORWARD UNDERLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 237,
circa 1865, 30in. lined nitro damascus barrels (in 2007, slightly loose), the rib engraved 'GEORGE H. DAW'S PATENT CENTRAL FIRE, 57 THREADNEEDLE ST. LONDON. NO. 237.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 choke in both, G.H. Daw patent action, patent no. 1594 of 1862, use no. 237, carved percussion fences, elongated topstrap, non-rebounding back-action locks, permanently attached fore-end with horn finial and crosspin release, best bolt acanthus scroll engraving with feathered bordering, bright finish, 14 1/4in. well-figured stock with engraved steel heel and toe plates, weight 7lb. 9oz.

Thanks Stephen: an interesting advertisement. This part of the ad is super interesting. "G.H. Daw patent action, patent no. 1594 of 1862, use no. 237." Apparently Daw stamped a patent use number for his own patent onto his own guns; Wonder is this was the normal arrangement for all patent holders or just Daw? Is there a Daw patent use number on Shrapnel's gun?

And 1/4 chokes in both barrels??? 12 years before choke boring became popularized? Barrels must have been honed. Oh wait - I missed the "slightly loose" "lined barrels" part of the ad. Holt's really should publish photos of the barrel and action flats of their guns.