doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Beasley gun

I recently saw an SXS from a maker named Beasley. I thought that it might be a self opener as I have heard the Purdey referred to as a Beasley action. It was not. Is it the same maker?

I believe that the inventor's name is spelled: "BEESLEY"

Best Regards, George

Part of the deal with Purdey's, was ol'Frederick wasn't to use his patented self-opening action in his own guns.

The same Beesley. Beesley seems to have made a number of guns on his own design, which patent he sold to Purdey's for sufficient cash to get himself in business. He also supplied guns of differing design and lower quality grade, guns I believe that had origins in Birmingham. There is not definitive information as to which or to what extent Birmingham origin guns may have been finished in Beesley's shop in London. The self-opener "Beesley" action was his shop's best gun and likely made mostly in his shop.

RM, never have seen a Beesley gun with the Beesley/Purdey action - have you?

Beesley had his hand into guns, rifles, pistols and so some no doubt would come from Brummieland. I do think his best Sle guns were all London tho'.
He was a major player in that scene, so it would only follow.

Yes, I have. They are not as common as the Royal actioned guns. Keep your eyes open, they are around an very fine guns, too.

I recently acquired a very nice sideplated toplever boxlock 12 bore gun with the name: "H.BEESLEY" in a scroll on either side & "H. Beesley 48 Loveday Street, Birmingham" on the top rib. It has a very short wedge fastened fore arm.

I can't find him in either Nigel Brown's or Boothroyd's book. Does anyone here have any information on this maker?

Best Regards, George

Rocketman, so you say - there are Beesley marked guns with the Beesley/Purdey actions? I'm not sure I agree with you.
I'ma thinkin' all his guns were all built under a different Beesley patent.