I'm looking at this gun and would appreciate any knowledge and background on them.

This is what IGC have on them:

Name Edward & George Higham
Other Names E & G Higham
Address1 9 Ranelagh Street
Address2 4 Adelaide Buildings, 4 Chapel Street
City/Town Liverpool
County Lancashire
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun makers
Dates 1857-1920?

Notes

Edward Higham (b.1833) and George Higham (b.1834 George (II)) were the sons of George (I) and Mary Higham of Warrington. They were recorded in the 1851 census, aged 18 and 17 years, living with their parents in Horse Market Street, Warrington, along with their younger brother, Stanley (b.1846). Both Edward and George were described as gun makers and worked for their father.
In 1857 they moved to Liverpool where they established their own business at 9 Ranelagh Street, next door to William Dooley at 11 Ranelagh Street, with additional premises at 32 Berry Street. William Dooley was born in Warrington and may well have been apprenticed to the Higham family of gun makers, he may have been related to them. In 1858 William moved his business from 11 Ranelagh Street to share the Higham's premises at 9 Ranelagh Street. The 1861 census records Edward married to Elizabeth (b.1834 in Warrington) and living at 51 Upper Hope Place with a daughter, Mary E (b.1861). George lived with them. Edward described himself as a gun maker employing 1 boy. In 1865 William Dooley, aged 62, sold his business to Edward and George. In the 1871 census Edward and Elizabeth were recorded living at 9 Ranelagh Street with another daughter Patty (b.1864). George still lived with the family and Mary, Edward's mother was staying with them on the night of the census. She was described as a gun maker and farmer of 35 acres employing 2 men.

No record of the family has been found in the 1881 census. Stanley had taken over the Warrington business from his parents, George and Mary, in the 1860s, and in the 1871 census was recorded at 19 Horse Market as a gun maker (see George Higham of Warrington). However, by the time of the 1891 census he was manager of the Conservative Club in Warrington and by 1901 was an employed gun maker in Folkestone, Kent. He may have gone to the south coast of England for the sake of his health, but he died in Ulveston (overlooking Morecombe Bay) in Lancashire, in 1925. The 1901 census records George as a 67 year old gun maker and farmer living at Sandringham Farm, Birkdale, Southport (about 25 miles north of Liverpool) with Patty and Fanny, and Stanley George Higham who was Stanley's son and George's nephew. Stanley George was described as a gunmaker's manager, almost certainly managing the business in Liverpool for Edward and George. Edward was also recorded in the census but separately, he was a widower, gun maker and farmer at Hill Side, Sandringham Farm. The census records George, Patty and Fanny (b.1872 in Liverpool) living with him. It also records that on the night of the census Eleanor (b.1872 in Warrington) who was the Stanley Higham's daughter, was staying with them. In about 1905 the firm moved to 4 Adelaide Buildings, 4 Chapel Street.

In about 1920, the business was sold to W C Carswell.

Other Info
The firm sold "Gastight & Metal Lined" shotgun cartridges under their own name.

Since you may wish to know about Carswell too, this is what IGC have on them:

Name William C Carswell
Other Names W C Carswell Ltd
Address1 E1 & F2 Exchange Buildings, Chapel Street
Address2 4 Chapel Street
Address3 19 Old Hall Street
City/Town Liverpool
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun & rifle maker
Other Address
Dates 1913?-1982

Notes

William C Carswell established his business in about 1913 at E1 and F2 Exchange Buildings Liverpool. In about 1920 the firm bought the businesses of Hooton & Jones and E & G Higham, they gave the latter's address at 4 Chapel Street as their principal trading address. In about 1935 the firm became a limited company, W C Carswell Ltd. In about 1960 the company moved to 19 Old Hall Street. They ceased to trade in 1982.
Other Info
The firm sold cartridges under the names "Carswell's Special" (post 1922) and "Banshee" (1920?-1960).

Tim

TRW, just wanted to take a moment as say thank you for your regular posting of the IGC listing when one of our forum members is searching for information on a particular maker.

My pleasure and thanks for the thanks!

I know getting access to IGC isn't always easy, yet there is such a host of excellent information on there. John Smith has done an amazing job of research. I know it is predominantly British data, but that is where my interest lies.

Tim

Tim, your quick responses are always a gold mine of info. Thanks for your help. Gil

Thank you very much for the information. This is a very interesting read and really appreciated. I guess there is no way to nail down when this particular gun was made?

Jamie,

The proof marks of the barrel flats should help determine how old your gun is, at least within a range of years.

My understanding is that if it was proved in Birmingham (and it probably was), and if it is of the vintage that has the small crossed swords with a letter above or next to them, it can be dated to a specific year of proof.

I am waiting to get a photo with the proof marks. I was thinking the same thing as you about trying to piece a date together by proof marks.

Thanks

Is there anything else that you could tell us about the gun, that might give a general idea about age, i.e. steel/damascus barrels, or gauge and chamber length. While no one piece of info is definitive the more pieces of the puzzle that are available, the better the guess.

Jamie,

Re-reading trw999s excellent post above, your Higham may be too old to have the crossed swords marking, as he indicates the business was sold to Carswell in 1920.

http://www.hallowellco.com/proof_date_codes.htm

This link indicates that the Birmingham crossed swords date marking started in 1921.

PM sent.

Aren't those crossed Halberds? A 14th to 15th century pike-like instrument (part axe, part pike and part hook) used by foot solders to pull mounted Calvary off of their horses?.

According to a knowledgeable collector whom I corresponded with regarding my E&G Higham 16 serial #4925, pre-1904 Higham serial numbers were from 3136-4774. From 1905 through 1917, the first serial number was 4987. Perhaps this info will help you extrapolate an approximate date of mfg. Gil

The address on the rib will give you a date range to work in, but unless there is serial number data available, the crossed halberds of the Birmingham proof house are the next best bet for pinning down a date of manufacture. If the gun pre-dates the Halberd data, then you have to use proof-mark date ranges.

In looking at the pictures sent to me, it appears the proof marks fit into the 1904 to 1925 era. The serial number is 4989. It's a 12ga 2 1/2" chambers Nitro Proof 1 1/8. I will post a picture later.

Two numbers away from Gil's 4987 indicator for 1905, as above. Looks as if you've got as accurate a dating as your going to get Jamie. That was a good era for the gunmakers (and their materials) so if it's been well looked after it should be a good gun.

Tim

Edit to add that I found a pinfire with serial no 2446 and several guns in a 15### series, which were probably later, may even have been trade guns (probably W&S looking at the actions) bought in for sale under the Higham name. Toby had a nice A&D that he sold, no 3754 from c.1885

If we get photo(s), I'll comment on value. Higham will be a BV3 maker's name.

DDA

Can you elaborate on what a BV3 maker is please?

Have a look at this recent thread, Jamie: http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=436963#Post436963

Tim

Spectacular thread! Thank you for furnishing...

I hope these don't blow up the page.

http://imgur.com/a/n95Zw

Lloyd3,

Could be Halberds, sounds more interesting than swords. I really have no idea.

I probably picked up the sword nomenclature years ago from Hallowell's proof date codes chart.

Hi, I used to have a Higham BLE, very similar to yours, mine had a bit more engraving as I recall. It was a quality piece, very well made and excellent fit and finish, handled like a dream. You won't be sorry with a Higham. I did sell mine and regret I ever did!

Good Luck!

Greg

Jamie, do have photos of the stock? What little glimpse there is in your photos shows some nice figure. Gil

I think 'Best' BLE is perhaps incorrect. Looks like a fairly standard BLE to me.

I know what you mean about the marks but the Proof House refer to them as crossed sceptres as far as I know. Lagopus.....

Morning all. Thanks so much for your input. This has all been very educational. So far, my double gun ownership has been a few LC Smith field grades.

The stock on this Higham is nicely figured. The "Best" notation is what the seller posted. Here is the stock.

http://imgur.com/a/giJ0k

It looks like a very nice gun to me, as are most of the Birmingham boxlocks that I have handled. Light, responsive, durable and pretty much foolproof, if used with appropriate loads. But I agree with 300846, I think "Best BLE" is stretching it a bit.

It seems like many dealers are calling any English gun a "Best gun" now days. Marketing, I guess.

And it looks like a non-ejector (BLNE) to me, not an ejector (BLE), BTW, although I have been wrong before.

Thanks Redoak. See PM.

Photo test