Dig just got back to me but headed to bed...he is off to do some cod fishing when he gets up....this us what he wrote:
"It is not totally clear in the photographs - however, the marks on the barrel tubes look like they could be a crown over an italic 'R', which is a London re-proof mark. Birmingham used a solid block 'R' rather than an italic. If so, the barrels will be oringinal and re-proofed at some time in London. They have Birmingham proof marks denoting a date between 1954 and 1986. They could be new barrels or the flats could have been struck smooth before re-proof. The beading around the chamber rims on the outside of the barrels looks very fresh and a bit stark compared with the other engraving. If they are new barrels, they probably re-used the original rib; showing the Whitworth steel inscription. I think that is quite likely. Hard to be sure without being able to inspect it properly. "
By the way the gun originally was in the Cabelas Buda Texas shop and I had it delivered to ME...thinking I would go up and see it.
Also, for historical purposes the 12 Earl probably ordered the gun, then the 13th Earl had to liquidate the entire estate in 1907 because of serious financial problems and the family Home at Alethorpe( sp) went into disrepair and saved later by the government in the 1980's... I wonder if the guns were part of the liquidation. The 13 th Earl was Aide to Camp to King Geoge V during WW1
Last edited by Condor; 07/12/13 06:52 PM.
