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

OK I have to admit I have been flirting with the 25" Churchill guns for awhile. There has been several articles written latey about the bargains in short barreled guns.
At my local gun club there is a 25" J. Graham for sale. It's a sidelock with very nice tight scroll engraving. Very nice wood, Churchill rib.
Overall in very nice condition. I would say a Best gun for this Maker.
Asking $6500 for it.
So I am not all familiar with this Maker, I beleive he is of Scotland?
Other guns I Googled were also 25" barreled guns.
Can someone shed the light on this Maker?

Iverness way up there in boonies of Scotland. While London makers had wealthier clients some provincial gunmakers had wealthy local landowners, industrialists and mine owners as patrons who bought very fine firearms. No matter. If the gun was superb quality when made, that quality will still be there. For the price asked it should be in very good original mechanical shape with good amount of original CC on them locks. Impossible to say w/o handling and seeing the gun, but assuming all tight with original chambers, barrels and good barrel thickness and enough original cosmetic condition left it probably represents good value for the money.

I convinced my brother to buy a BLNE from this maker in 20. An absolutely lovely little gun w/28-inch tubes that weighs a swelvte 5 1/2 lbs. Somewhat plain, but a stunning bird gun made in the 30s (according to the Birmingham proofmarks).

What makes a bargain gun a deal to buy is very limited demand. But that sword cuts both ways. When it comes time to sell they can be a bear to unload. Before I'd buy it, I'd make sure it fits me perfectly, was choked like I wanted it and that I shot it very well. Does the fact it will weigh about 6lb.6oz. seem to be a weight he can shoot well. 25" guns were built to be very dynamic in swing. If it shoots well and everything suits then buy it as long term shooting gun and you will not have any regrets. Another consideration is the need to feed it a lifetimes supply of proper ammo. If you don't reload 2 1/2" shells, which I assume what it needs, you need to think about that as well. Either buy a large supply of RST or other factory ammo or buy a 600Jr and make your own.

As to value, others will give you their two cents worth, for what that is worth. A careful search of the internet might find another comparable gun or perhaps a few of our British poster can give you insight for what they think that makers gun would be worth there so you can get a feel for what it is worth here. Some of the Provencal names are more well known than others but quality wins out in the end.

To make this good buy the gun has to be very high quality in very good original condition. This is a way of compensating for obscure name and short barrels which are not in vogue now because most don't understand very simple concept if the gun fits "if the front half of the gun weights and measures the same and the back half of the gun weights and measures the same, you will shoot the same". The up to 6oz or so weight savings realized from shorter barrels has to be compensated from butt stock end of the gun. One has to remember that one makes money breaks even or looses money at the time the gun is bought not at the time it is sold. This assumes that one takes care of the gun while owning it and doesn't shoot it "to pieces".

Or if one just shoots little birds or targets and can get bu with 7,5 or 8 shot they can buy bunch of 7/8oz 65mm Caledonian target shells at $66 pert case plus shipping. Quite coincidently made in same country where the original gun was retailed.

Is it this one?

http://www.ospreyarms.com/product/graham-co-inverness-12-bore/

If so, is something wrong with the forend? I remember something being wrong with the wood.

And if it's the same gun, I doubt it's worth $5000 these days.

OWD

No that's not it. But would have made a nice matched pair for the one I saw.