doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com D Gray Inverness

Any of you experts know anything about D GRay sidelocks?

I am far from an expert but I remember Grays of Inverness quite well. In my youth they were one of 3 gunsmiths in Inverness and the only one that had a selection of guns way out of my price range. I would think that anything bearing their name would be Birmingham made but generally of good quality.
They were in business c. 1901 to c.1988.
Their premises is now a bar called Gunsmiths so the memory lives on.

The brand name will be level three (BV3), which is the most populus level and values at 2/3 of BV2 and 1/2 of BV1 . You will also need to determine the Original Quality grade of the gun; there is a lot of difference between a best work SLE (OQ1)and a plain unengraved grade 3 SLNE (OQ6). Difference between OQ1 and OQ6 is about 4X.

Post a photo is possible.

DDA

Not sure if it is connected, but Gray and Co famously supply the Gray Stalking Telescope ........ still made by Grahams of Inverness. https://www.grahamsonline.co.uk/product/2079
This makes me wonder if they took over the Gray business and so may have records.

It is very dangerous commenting on a gun from a few poor res. photos but I would suggest that the gun was made by P Webley or if later that 1897, the Webley & Scott company that came out of the amalgamation. As 300846 says above, perfectly good gun but made to a price. The engraving style is very much like many Webley made sidelocks I have seen retailed by dozens of retailers.
The lock pin pattern points to very simple back action lock: no interceptor sear and possibly no independent sear spring, maybe using the lower limb of the main spring to do this job.

Thanks for the responses. I'm looking 5to just get one gun this year and am torn about how much to spend. 3 or 4,000 or a better one gun for 6 or 7. What I'd really like I can't afford

I have a D Gray Inverness sidelock ejector. It is fully stocked all the way to the fences. I would like to find out how to learn more about the gun.

Thanks in advance for the Replies.

Brookie, it is highly likely that your gun was made in Birmingham for "The Trade." Post a photo and resources here may be able to help identify it. "Made in the trade" does not denigrate your gun. Stocked to the fences is a styling que, but not one unique to best work guns. Hopefully, we will be able to identify the Original Quality grade for you.

DDA

I will do that! Wasn't concerned about any devaluation or increase in valuation. I was perhaps informed (perhaps incorrectly) that it was not a Birmingham gun.

Thank you for your reply Will post shortly in a new thread.