Has anyone stumbled across a similar Belgian made longarm with the tradename Henry Leigh Trap Gun??? Was he an importer or something of the like?









The double belongs to Mr. Jack Turner, has 32" tubes and measures 0.707" / 0.686".



Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Here are my thoughts!The leigh family of gunmakers are recorded as active in London from 1792-1859. In the past I have encountered breech loading guns made in Belgium For the export market, that are engraved with the name of a defunct London maker.
As suggested,it could also be the name used by an as yet unidentified hardware store or dealer. A similar gun is offered for sale on the internet,in this case it is engraved,"Henry Leigh, Wildfowl gun." The gun illustrated looks like a very good example of the export gun,circa 1880 with above average finish.

Thanks Mr. Hebbes for your insight. In a quick search I read that there was a London gunmaking family named Leigh but at the time did the term "Trap Gun" apply only to the U.S. of A.?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Interesting that only one tube was proofed????








Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, Trap shooting was the name used in England to describe shooting competitions,live bird and clays.W.W. Greener,s book "The gun and its developement,' contains a chapter dedicated to Trap Shooting[Chapter 18].In fact Greener sold a gun Engraved"Trap" Gun, ads; for this gun can be seen in some editions of Greeners book," The Modern Shotgun," published in 1888.
I would agree that the tendency in England was to refer to trap guns as pigeon guns.

raimey: i just bought a similar 10 guage in about 90% cond. the markings are the same and only the left hand barrel is proofed. also it is a round action with rebounding hammers. the wood and metal finish are above average. it is marked u. s. arms on the locks which indicate it was made for export possibly for crescent arms or a outlet. just interesting that a different action has the same markings but a different name. regards bob

Thanks Bob and it appears that on the lower rib after the "2030" there are initials "A?" and also a nearby mark on the left tube.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Henry Holland Leigh was an arms merchant in Pemberton, England circa 1876. He was strictly a dealer and not a gun marker. The gun looks to have been refinished. The barrels are later than 1876 and were proofed for black powder in Belgium.

Non Pour Balle translates to Not for Ball. It was an early way of saying the barrels are choked. It was in use from 1878-1898.

I would place this gun in the late 1890's because of the barrels.

Pete