Hi all. I've posted this on another gunsite but would like to get some other opinions if possible. I’ve been looking at an antique double rifle online and am rather confused as to who is the actual maker. The side locks are engraved with J. Beattie, the action is stamped on the flats with P. Phillip & Son and the barrels are marked on the rib E. Harrison & Co. 226 Strand. It’s in .500 bpe. Now some research I’ve done says that Beattie was a seller of other’s guns as well as a maker himself. Could this specimen be built by one of the other two makers named on it and Beattie was the seller, or did some makers farm out some of the work and put the components together and put their name on it? The only possible concern I have is that this gun was put together by someone using spare parts, which would be a big concern to me. It does appear to be in very good condition. Thanks in advance and I’m looking forward to hearing your responses.

Just a guess but, P.Philip& son Patent? Originally sold, possibly built by Beattie, later re-barreled by E. Harrison. I can see if the patent appears in any of the Crudington/Baker books later today.

The P. Phillip name stands alone on the flat of the receiver, no patent number or anything else to go along with the name.

I was looking at the pics of the rifle a gain and noticed that the serial number is not on the barrels. Might be a rebarrel job?

Very likely, usually the barrels and locks match as to maker.

I believe by law in the UK if a firearm is rebarreled the original makers name can not be used on the barrels unless the original maker does the rebarreling.

Does it wear a serial number & have you consulted any ledgers?


Cheers,

Raimey
rse

The gun has matching numbers on the receiver, forearm and trigger guard. There is no visible serial number on the barrel. I am only going by the pics, but I would expect to see a serial number in the barrel pics, if there was one. An un-numbered barrel might make tracing it difficult. I have no access to ledgers, if they exist.

William Moore and later Cogswell and Harrison, had premises at 226 Strand.

I have seen the gun in pictures and believe it to be re-barreled. It looks as though the barrel flats are down hard upon the water table, not good but even worse in a rifle. Might be best to continue the search.
Steve

Thanks. I’ve decided to pass on this one. I also think it’s a rebarrel which is a real turn-off for me. Thanks again to all for the input that helped confirm my suspicions. The hunt continues.