doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Looking for information on BT Redefern Shotgun

I recently purchased this shotgun on Auction Arms in a weak moment, more out of curiosity than anything else. I received it this afternoon and was taking it apart to fix the cracked stock and I noticed that the back action locks are very heavily curved to slim down the stock. Was this a typical trait on back action guns of this period? Aside from the damage, it is a nice quality gun and the price didn't seem too bad for it. I did note that it appears to be a 13 or 14 gauge rather than the 12 posted.

I'm guessing the date to be 1850's, any other ideas?

http://www.auctionarms.com/Closed/DisplayItem.cfm?ItemNum=8794399.0

Alex,

I checked "Redefern" on the Internet Gun Club database. Nothing found. Are you sure it is not RedFern?

I have several Birmingham and Belgium back action guns sitting here. I do not find any heavy curving.

When you have the barrels off, is there any proof mark on them? All the English guns I have, do at least have the proof house stamp on them.

Old percussion pieces are hard to date at times. Various makers continued to make them into the 1920's. Very often these later guns were meant for the African trade.

Pete

Redefern might be "olde" English, or it might be a Belgique's best attempt at an "English" name or word.
My parent's phone number in Toronto in the 1950s was Redfern X-XXXX

Recommend you check the spelling again.[ Spurious guns were a problem to the English gun trade of the period, but spelling mistakes have also been encountered!] If the gun has Birmingham proof marks, the name was almost certainley a spelling error and should read"Redfern." The Redfern family of gunmakers was active in Birmingham 1799-1850.I suspect the most likely maker was; Thomas Redfern' 1837-1850.

You will find quite a few British guns with no information as to the name on the gun. They were often built in the trade and sold to various outlets who would have their name engraved on; mainly country Gunsmiths, Ironmongers and Agricultural Dealers. Makes research very difficult at times. only found one Bartholomew Redfern in Birmingham from 1790 - 1836. Lagopus.....

Here are the listings for Redfern,Birmingham gunmakers;
Redfern,Bartholomew,Matthew and William 1799-1803 Temple Row
Redfern,Bartholomew 1807-1823, Whittall Street.
1824-1833, Mary Sreet,
1834 1 Caroline Street
1834-1839 Bread Street,
Redfern, Horatio 1829 1 Mary Ann Street
Redfern, Thomas 1837-1844 57 Bread Street
1845-1850 5 Whittall Street
It is recorded that in 1850 the business was sold to Joseph Bourne another Birmingham gun maker.Thomas Redfern became a partner in the Bourne business. Bourne was active in the South African export market.