Unless the Ledger is incorrect, and I have no previous evidence that implies it might be, I don't think that F. Beesley made this gun.
The Beesley Ledger states that gun 2369 was a Standard Grade SLE 16 bore with 28 1/2" barrels. It had a single trigger. It was started in January of 1913 along with twenty other 16 bores. (Standard Grade was Beesley's name for Best or Standard Best ala Purdey.) Obviously it is too low to be a Purdey number!
I cannot recall seeing any Standard Grade Beesley 12s with 13/1 barrels. Are there any markings on the barrels as to who supplied the blanks, eg, Whitworth? In any case it was fairly early since it was a non-ejector gun.
I believe TRW will concur when he returns from ....
We have made some study of Purdey actioned guns made by Francotte and Scott under license. It does not appear to be a Francotte since they interpreted the locks somewhat differently. A Scott or a Francotte would have a Patent Use number, so if you could send me some more detailed pictures that would be help and copy TRW999 please. If you'd like to speak about it offline send me your telephone number. I can call or Skype the UK and Europe for "free" with my phone scheme.
PS
TRW and I are working very hard to complete the book on Beesley. Does anyone care?
Last edited by Niemann; 07/18/16 11:22 AM.
