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Joined: Apr 2015
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Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 72 |
Hello:I am new to British Shotguns and here. I took a leap and bought a W.J. Jeffery 12 bore. Attached are photos and the description. Could anyone tell me when it was made etc. Opinions are appreciated, could anyone tell me what a good price for this gun would be, in the current market? Any help would be greatly appreciated! This company produced high quality shotguns and rifles. Their products have been used by sportsmen for many years. Jeffery produced guns under their own banner and also as contractors for other distributors. Features a single brass bead sight on the polished concave rib marked "W. JEFFREY & SON. 3 RUSSELL STREET. PLYMOUTH". Standard British commercial proofs on the barrel flats and watertable. 2-5/8 inch chambers with auto ejectors, choked cylinder/improved modified. The casehardened action is lightly scroll engraved as are the tangs, trigger guard and break lever. Both sides of the action are marked "W. JEFFERY & SON". The forearm and receiver have matching serial numbers. The barrels are numbered differently. Mounted on a multipoint checkered splinter forearm and checkered straight grip stock with a red rubber recoil pad. Length of pull is 14 1/2 inches. Condition: Very good as assembled and refinished. The barrels have 95% of the current blue finish displaying areas of light spotting and pitting that has been cleaned and blued over as well as some light handling marks and small surface scratches. The receiver displays a primarily silvered finish with some traces of muted case colors. It also showing small areas of light spotting and pitting. The wood is very good with attractive grain, light to moderate handling marks and small scattered pressure indentations. The recoil pad has hardened with age and has a few cracks   
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 19
Boxlock
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Boxlock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 19 |
My best guess is $1,200 - $3,200, based on comps, current condition, original grade, and what I know about the maker. Wikipedia has a brief summary on W.J. Jeffery.
Rocketman has a valuation formula that is much more thoughtful. Would defer to him.
Post photos of the proof marks and people on the forum will be able to give you a date estimate.
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Joined: May 2011
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2011
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Being new to vintage British shotguns, probably your questions, especially as to value versus condition, should have been asked before you purchased. It was a nice gun but price is greatly affected by condition and originality. The barrels being mismatched to the rest of the gun often signifies a replacement. With already being refinished and still showing signs of pitting, I think I would want to know what barrel wall thickness is along with the current bore diameter. The above estimate of $1200.00 or more in its current condition would never happen where I am but prices could be vastly different where you are.
Last edited by gunsaholic; 04/27/15 12:39 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2015
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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I am also confused with the 2 5/8 nomenclature for the chamber?
I looked and found 2 1/2 in. shells and of course 2 3/4, however I have not found a source for 2 5/8 in. Any help from the knowledge pool would help! Thanks
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,708 Likes: 346
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,708 Likes: 346 |
W. Jeffery on Russell Street may not be exactly the same company as W. J. Jeffery, but it might not matter a whole bunch. No guess here as to what it might be worth.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,862
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,862 |
It's very possible the gun is a Webley & Scott 700. Or another W&S variant. Sold by Jeffrey. Can you post a pic of the top of the action? Jeffrey sold guns made by several manufacturers.
Last edited by Ken61; 04/27/15 01:10 PM.
I prefer wood to plastic, leather to nylon, waxed cotton to Gore-Tex, and split bamboo to graphite.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,768 Likes: 115 |
Not a W.J.Jeffery (William Jackman Jeffery) as he was always listed at London addresses. He never made guns but always sourced them from the trade.
What you have is a W. Jeffery. Now comes the puzzle as I can find a Jeffery at Plymouth but not at that address and listed as A.R & H.V Jeffery. They were in business only for a short while between 1966 and 1976. I suspect your man was a relative or had some connection. A good picture of the barrel proof marks may shed a little more light. It certainly looks as if it started life with Webley & Scott. Is it an ejector or non-ejector? Lagopus.....
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,543 Likes: 102
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,543 Likes: 102 |
Fairly certain its not a Webley action .No ejector wire or blind screw in the forend and the position of the hammer wire in relation to the sear wire are wrong .Not sure about the position of the top lever either.
Boothroyd lists William Jeffery Plymouth Devon ., at 16 George Street .c1900
There were a number of gunmakers listed under the name of Jeffery it is not clear as to what relation they were to each other .
Last edited by gunman; 04/27/15 03:35 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
The business of William Jeffrey was established at,10 Lockyer Street, Plymouth in 1862.In 1865 the business became W.Jeffrey and Son, and relocated to 12 George Street,Plymouth. It remained at this address till 1918 when it moved to 3,Russell Street, Plymouth. It is recorded that in 1933 a Percy Jeffrey rented the shop at 3 Russell street from a F. J. Coles for 100 pounds per year and reopened the William Jeffrey business in its old location.The business continued until 1966 when the name was changed to AR&HV Jeffrey, it is reported that the business closed circa 1982.
Cartridges bearing the W.Jeffrey name,with brand names, The Sky High, Edistone & The Rabbit, were sold from the Russell Street Location.
Your gun is a typical inexpensive Birmingham BLE gun. The proof marks will give some indication as to its date of manufacture.
In proof ,Guns of this quality sell in the U.K. for 800 -1000 U.S. dollars.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 72
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 72 |
Shotgun arrived and it is in very ...very nice condition. There are a few handling marks on the stock, pad is leather covered and somewhat hard but not bad enough to replace. Checkering is perfect and sharp except for one shiner[a single broke diamond] the gun is on face and ejectors are timed. Both triggers break at approx. 4.7 lbs. The bores are perfect and the barrels are 95% condition rust blued,the action has quite a bit of case coloring left on the action [except the knuckles]. The action bottom and trigger guard are blacked. L.O.P. is spot on 14.5in. and weighs 6.24 lbs with thirty in. barrels. the markings ...I NEED HELP HERE are:
Right Barrel
Crown over K? On Underside of Chamber
On Watertable
1 1/8
12 over C in Diamond
BP CROWN
BV NP
3382 S.N.
12
WORDS "NITRO PROOF" RUNS UP AND DOWN
Left Barrel THE SAME MARKS EXCEPT THE ADDITIONAL WORD "CHOKE" AND 13 OVER 1 across from the 12
The barrels are numbered 2207 BUT THE ACTION S.N.3382 IS ON THE WATERTABLE
They are supposedly CHOKED CYLINDER AND IMP. MOD
How can I accurately measure chamber length. It was listed as 2 5/8in. but I suppose that is a 2.5 in. shotshell.
Nice gun at a nice price.
ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!
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