doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Midland Gun Co. Birmingham England (Oldie for sure

Pictures are easy, finding knowledgeable folks willing to help, well, that turns out is pretty easy also. Much easier than I thought it would be. I am glad I found this place. I googled Midland Gun Co. Birmingham England and this is where I ended up.
I know 10000% more than I did this morning.
Thank YOU

I have indeed posted this to the classifieds. I am asking $850 shipped USPS priority mail insured and I hope that is reasonable?
Thanks again for your help,
Mike

I am going to pull this until I get it checked out professionally. I see some pitting in the barrels that give me pause.
Thank you all for your help.
Mike

I see the Proof Mark, 'BP' surmounted by a Crown or Definitive Birmingham proof 1904, another Proof Mark an 'NP' surmounted by a Crown or Definitive nitro proof 1904 to 1954, another Proof Mark a 'BV' surmounted by a Crown or 1904 to 1954, and 'Date Stamp' Cross Swords with a 'O' or 1934 to 1935.

It is post 1925 and they more or less stopped production around the Second World War. It has a high serial number so I would put production date around the mid 30's The model you have is The 'Favourite' Hammerless Non-Ejector. Records were destroyed in the war. I cannot quite read the date code which is the small letter in the crossed sceptre mark on the barrel flats. If you can make that out I can date exactly. Lagopus.....

Chamber length in inches is always a good clue to dating Brit guns. If you have chamber length but don't have the "tons" proofmark, then that puts your gun in the 1925-54 ballpark.

The catalogue description for the 'Favourite' was as follows; 'A 12 bore central-fire double barrel Hammerless Gun, with top lever Anson-Deeley treble wedge-fast cross bolt action, automatic safety bolt, our special steel barrels, left choked, Anson push-down rod-bolt fore-end fastener, walnut pistol grip stock, horn heel plate. Carefully bored for hard, regular shooting. May be made without pistol grip if required. To order in 16 and 20 bore at 10/- extra. This gun is wonderful value at the price asked for it. The action is simple, strong, has few parts, is not likely to get out of order and with proper care should last a lifetime'. 'Steel barrels light model Proved 2 1/2" cases. �11.0.0. As a wildfowl gun with 3" paper cases. �12.0.0. 25, 28, 30 or 32" standard. Any other length to order. Weight according to barrel length. 28" weight about 6lb. 4ozs. 2/12" cases. Recoil heel plate 20/- extra fitted & polished.

It was a mid priced hammerless non-ejector at the time with the cheapest at �8 and the most expensive being �14.

Midland Gun Co. were a large concern in their day and would make just about anything to order as well as those catalogue listed. They still advertised making muzzle loaders in the 1937 catalogue and would also make a best quality side-lock ejector. Their top model could stand alongside just about anything. Some of their cheapest were single barrel 'Knockabout' model guns based on imported Harrington & Richardson actions. They made guns for the Trade and it is not unusual to find guns with other 'Makers' names on that started life with Midland Gun Co. Lagopus.....

Minor pitting is usually nothing to worry about. I would rather see a few pits than have bores honed out to perfection, with the resulting loss in wall thickness.

I will attempt to photograph the area that has me concerned this weekend.

Update: Assuming lagopus is correct about the model being extractor only.

BV3-OQ7.5-CC4 = $1002. Most likely estimate.

DDA