OK. Some clarification:
Is this the claim you're referring to?
http://www.hellis.com/shotguns.html From what I can tell, Hellis uses a modified version of a Baker patent for their O/Us. Boothroyd talks about this action in his book on British O/Us. The Beesley-patent action that Purdey uses is for SxSs.
Other than Baker, I don't think any else has ever made an O/U on this system. And I believe Baker made very few of them.
I think some of other makers bought guns from Baker in the white and then put their names on them, though.
As for their "hand made" claims, it's suspicious. I kind of sounds like the way the US food industry uses the word "organic."
I sent Hellis an email to try and lean more.
Thanks for the heads up on this. I'm curious to see what we'll find out.
OWD
