doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Fred K Williams Proof Mark Identification

your photo from the catalog raises another question....the hidden 3rd lock (purdey nose) was a surprise to me - your second photo (showing the watertable) shows a cutaway for a rib extension....and what i had assumed was the square bolt variant of a greener crossbolt.

the catalog shot does not have a rib extension, please give us a bit more clarification....

best regards,

tom

i had assumed the sleeve joint was a bit farther out - because there is a slight amount of the 13/1 stamp that appears to be sliced through - that notion supported my thought the proofs were original.

a photo of the top side of the sleeved joint area would be useful - and could also show the rib extension (if there is one). i know there are high-end sleeves that are virtually invisible, but from here in the cheap seats, i have never handled a gun that met that standard.

best regards,

tom

Well spotted!

My earlier post was probably wrong as I was looking in the wrong place for the sleeve joint.

If it is where the 13/1 marking is cut into (again a very neat joint) and a bit further toward than usual then those would be marks applied to the complete gun on an earlier proof test.

Here is a photo of the top side:

Here are some additional shots, please let me know if there is an angle or detail I'm not capturing correctly, this is my first English shotgun so I'm learning as I go. I greatly appreciate all the detailed info!

The top rib extension didn't turn out great, but the sleeve weld (likely TIG) is almost invisible.
It may be here