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Have an attorney who has inherited some "old shotguns from 'home'"(he is English) who is looking for information about the maker Charles Osborne. Google has bits and pieces as do various retailers selling Osborne's works. Anybody have a good source/resource I can check? From what I gather he made "best guns". Thanks, Dr. BILL

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I don't know a bunch about the company, but have seen several for sale from time to time. I have one boxlock 12 gauge with nice small scroll engraving and ejectors that is a pretty decent gun, but not what I would call "best" in the English tradition. It has "Chas Osborne & Co, London" on the rib, but has Birmingham nitro proofs to 1 1/8 oz and a 2 1/2" chamber. Overall a nice light 12 gauge. If your friend wants two of them, let me know.

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Bill, I can't help much either although for a number of years I owned a nicely engraved boxlock which is now for sale through a reputable dealer in Alberta. My gun had somewhat of a fascinating history which I posted in the past. It was made for "Simpson & Hunter Gunmakers - Edmonton & Alberta " Gun was built in 1907. I can tell you that Charles Osborne promoted single trigger designs and patented at least 3 different designs. The one I had worked well but when I viewed the substantial number of pins, levers & swivels that were integral to the design I realized that should it ever fail it was well outside my abilities and likely those of most of the "gunsmiths" that I know. I believe I would consider the maker a 2nd or 3rd tier maker using Rocketman's template. Still the engraving was top tier and I have no doubt that this maker like others could turn out "best" work if commissioned to do so. I can state that of the very few I have handled they all had that lively game gun "feel" & " balance ". The gun I owned was ordered by a rancher in Central Alberta and delivered to him in 1908 and remained in the family until I acquired it some years ago. I did do some digging on the maker when I first acquired the gun and will send you what I have by PM. I have seen a number of hammer guns by the maker and have heard of sidelocks but all of the hammerless guns that I have seen have been nicely engraved boxlocks with decent wood and finish but not outstanding.

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Great, Thanks, much more than I knew. Seems the "best" label comes from retailers wishing to turn a buck. Thanks again. BILL

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Dr. Bill, Im in the same boat as Slate sort of. Unfortunately I dont know much about the maker, but I did own a very well made charles osborne back action hammer gun with rebouding hammers, straight grip stock, 30" steel tubes(forget chamber length)(forget the chokes). Anyways, it had nice border engraving and no case colors left. I wanted to refinish the entire gun, but figured I would never get around to it so I sold it to a friend of mine. Although I have never seen a "best" gun from Osborne, I have seen some nice boxlocks like the one ChiefShotguns talks about. There is one on gunsamerica right now for a little over a grand. Best wishes,

Channing

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976771133.htm



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Slate: I would love to learn more about Osborne. I have a boxlock 12 and it is one of my favorites. Thank you. Gil Russell Quailman85749@hotmail.com 520-760-8853


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Birmingham Gunmaker ceased trading about 1950 used to have premises in Lichfield St., B'Ham.Addresses in London, Edinburgh, & Glasgow (common practice to give an impression of grandeur)the business was bought by my old Mentor Frank Wiseman in the '50s.
Examples I have seen were quite nice.

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The firm of Charles Osborne (b.1799) was established in 1838 as a gunmaker and factor at 1 Litchfield Street, Birmingham.
He moved in 1854 to 12 & 13 Whittall Street and traded as C Osborne & Co.

In 1858 he was appointed a Guardian of the Birmingham Proof House.

In 1871 he died at the age of 72. Unfortunately, up to this date very little of the history of this comparatively large firm was recorded (see "Other Info" below), and records after 1871 are not much better, but it is known that they supplied both London and provincial makers e.g. Holland & Holland with single barrel shotguns, and other gunmakers with with all types of shotguns and rifles.

The business appears to have traded also as a partnership (although it was only recorded as such in 1884). The partners were Charles Osborne (Jnr), Charles Francis Ellis and E W Wilkinson. The partners seem to have traded in their individual capacities at the same time. Charles Francis Ellis was recorded at 12-13 Whittall Street from 1873 to 1875, and Charles Osborne Ellis was recorded there from 1877 to 1882. Charles Osborn Ellis was probably Charles Francis's son - the Osborne and Ellis families were obviously inter-related.

A shop was opened at 3 Broad Street Buildings, Broad Street, London, it was recorded from 1881 but probably opened in 1879 when the company were appointed agents for Remington Arms Co, a position they held until 1911.

In 1884 (when the partnership was recorded) Charles Osborne (Jnr), Charles Osborn Ellis and E W Wilkinson were granted patent No. 8402 for a drop-down barrel action.

In 1885 the London shop moved to 7 Whitehall Place and further shops were opened in Edinburgh at 47 George Street and Glasgow at Blythswood Square.

In 1887 the firm obtained patent No. 7222 for another drop-down barrel action, and in 1888 patent No. 11970 referred to punt guns and sliding block actions.

By 1889 the firm's Birmingham factory also occupied 14 Whittall Street; in that year Ellis and Wilkinson (trading as Charles Osborne & Co were granted patent No. 11879 for a self-cocking sliding-block action for punt guns.

In 1892 the London office moved to 2 Great Scotland Yard.

In 1895 the firm took additional premises at 16-17 Sand Street, Birmingham.

In 1896 they became a limited company.

In 1898 a patent was taken out with W Jerman for another punt gun with a sliding lock action.

In 1908 the London office moved to 10 York Buildings, Adelphi.

In 1909 Osborne and Ryland patented a modified Anson & Deeley action.

The Glasgow and Edinburgh shops probably closed prior to the First World War if not in the 1890s.

In 1926 the Sand Street factory was closed, quite obviously the company was in difficulties. In 1928 the London shop closed, and in 1929 it would appear that the company was bought by Skimin & Wood because it moved to 10,12 & 14 Vesey Street which were Skimin & Wood's premises. No guns were produced under the company's name after 1928 but it is thought the company survived in name until 1957.

The firm were prolific manufacturers of guns, rifles and pistols for the South African and Indian markets; their range of large bore big game rifles, particularly double rifles, was one of the widest available.

The records of the firm appear to have been lost but Internet Gun Club have details of some serial numbers and dates.

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Boy, that has sure been a quick and extensive education! Thanks to one and all. Best, BILL

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Quick note Bill. The maker's name has pricing impact as Brand Value (C. O. is BV3). Original Quality grade of an individual gun is independent of the maker's name; all (virtually) shops could make a "best" grade gun if so commissioned, but most made a lot of lower grade guns as their "bread and butter." Boss is the only (perhaps) company with a claim of making "best guns only." Reality is that there was a vastly larger market for lower grade guns than there was for "best" guns. Only a few makers achieved social status sufficint for them to depend on "best" gun commissions as their main product.

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