doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com W.J. Jeffery

Looks like a typical Birmingham BLNE.

Probably made by someone like Midland or Harper, and marked "W. Jeffery". The name is not important, if in good condition with original chambers, it will be a nice, lightweight, durable gun, with appropriate loads. I shoots 2 1/2" RSTs in mine.

You may be able to determine the original proof date from the small crossed swords stamp on the barrel flats, if it is of the vintage that has them.

This one is easy. Any of the various Jeffery names have level three Brand Value (BV3). The Original Quality grade is seven for a "plain border engraved BLE" (OQ7). The Current Condition is level four for "heavy use but no abuse." I'm assuming the barrels are carrying "tube numbers and are original." If the barrels are good, I'd not worry about the "mis-match" of numbers. As for chamber length, if you will confine yourself to low pressure loads, the chamber length is moot ( as shown by thousands and thousands of 2 3/4" hulls with low pressure loads fire in 2 1/2" chamber). BUT, you MUST be sure the load is low pressure. Hull length is no substitute for knowing what pressure you are shooting. RST is very good in this area of shooting.

BV3-OQ7-CC4 = $1233. That is USA median retail. More at a swankier shop and less for a person-to-person sale and even less to a dealer.

Questions?? Concerns???

DDA

Thank You for that succinct answer. If it is not too much trouble do you care to hazard a guess as to the date of mfg? I have finished cleaning it [Renaissance wax on metal and wood, cleaned the checkering, oiled bearing points and bore cleaned. It is a gem condition wise, for a working bird gun. It fits me perfectly and points like my finger. I paid under a thousand dollars and don't regret it for a second. I've ordered 4 boxes of RST 2.5in. Lite 7 's and 7.5 's. Heavy use I'm not quite sure. Its' lever is still to the right though slightly. No matter it will last longer than I will.
Thank You and Everybody else.

P.S. TUBE #? There IS A NUMBER UNDER THE CHAMBER AREA WHERE THE TUBES ARE JOINED #2027

Based on your description of the Proof marks on your gun they
appear to be Birmingham, Nitro proof in use 1904-1925.
1 1/8 ounces is the maximum shot charge to be used in the gun; always provided that the approved breech pressure of 6720 p.s.i.is not exceeded.
BP BV NP and the words nitro proof are part of the approval markings applied during and after proof testing.
12/C indicates a gun with chambers that can vary in length from 2.5 -3.0 in length. Almost certainly your gun started life with 2.5 chambers which is supported by the 1 1/8 shot load marking.
12 is the diameter of the right barrel at proof -.729[nominal]
13 is the diameter of the left barrel at proof.- .719[nominal]
The right barrel is cylinder.[No choke designation]
The left barrel is choked ,usually when new, this quality of gun would be bored full choke, .040 constriction at muzzle diameter.
IT IS IMPOTRTANT THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS, BEFORE USING THIS GUN THAT THE BARREL DIAMETERS, CHAMBER LENGTH AND BARREL WALL THICKNESS BE CHECKED FOR SIZE BY A COMPETENT GUN SMITH.MANY GUNS OF THIS ERA HAVE BEEN OVER BORED AND CHAMBERS LENGTHENED RENDERING THEM OUT OF PROOF.

"Jeffery produced guns under their own banner and also as contractors for other distributors."

William Jeffery of Plymouth (Not William Jackman Jeffrey) did their own work. You guys see a British gun and automatically assume, incorrectly, that Webley & Scott or Midland built it. Give it a break,,,,PLEASE!!!!!

Trebling

OK, I stand corrected on the Midland/Harper/someone else supplying W. Jeffery. I am not an expert on British guns, but I sure do like them. And I do appreciate learning from those who have more experience & knowledge than I.

I am surprised that they would make their own standard BLNE like this one. Seems expedient to simply bring it in from the trade. But I admit that I do not understand all the nuances of the UK gun trade.

Redoak, I don't think anyone fully understands the British gun trade.

Guilty.

My knowledge of British doubles is just enough to classify me as "incompetent", rather than totally "ignorant".

Ken