doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Thomas W Perkes, retailed by C.S.S.A. Ltd.

This is headed my way.

Whatever we know about it, or the maker, is appreciated.

I did a little digging to be sure it wasn't JABC or the equivalent, Perkes Sr. Was an interesting guy.

Thomas W Perkes, no. 9801, retailed by C.S.S.A. Ltd

Border-scroll engraving, the underside engraved Thomas W. Perkes, Maker, D'Arbley Street, London, W., retaining some hardening-colour, figured stock, the game-rib engraved Civel (sic) Service Association .E.C.

Weight 6lb. 13½oz., 14⅜ in. stock, 28in.barrels, approx both cyl. choke, 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof.

That's the listing from when it sold a couple of years ago. Current listing had the serial number as 1086. I'll find out which is right when it arrives

Here's the listing I got it from:

Civil Service Supply Association Retailed Thomas Perkes Sidelock Double Barrel Shotgun

London nitro proof marks dating to between 1904 and 1925. Import mark on under rib. Chambers measured 2 1/2" with ejector, cylinder/cylinder, and 14 1/2" LOP.

Condition: Very good as professionally refurbished, with much of the blue, strong traces of original case colors on the action with the balance silvered, light handling evidence, and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.

Details

Manufacturer: Perkes, Thomas W.

Serial number: 1086

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

Caliber / Gauge12

Barrel: 28 1/8 inch solid rib










The photo below is the one left from the original sale in 2021, in England. The stock is pretty distinctive, so easy to tell it's the same gun.



I can post more when I get it here, if there's any interest.

Looks like a beauty. Sorry, nothing more to add.

elegant!

According to Stockel, Thomas Perkes worked in London; from 1882-1895 ish he was at 70 Osnaburg Street, Regent's Park. 1890-1894 he was at 14A Castle Street East. In 1895, at 18 Cork St and Bond Street. From 1895-1898 as "Perkes Adams and Co", 15 Swallow St. From 1897-1898 at Denmark Street.

There is mention of Thomas William Perkes, born 1877 so possibly the son of the Perkes listed above, and he is listed as establishing himself as a gunmaker on Darbley Street in 1911. Obviously there were two of them, likely father and son as someone born in 1877 could not have been a gunsmith in 1882............Perkes had an excellent reputation and apparently held patents, and Adams was a famous inventor and gunmaker, combined they must have made some really nice stuff! PErkes apparently was in a court battle with Westley-Richards, lost and went bankrupt, so maybe it is the same Perkes, just reopening after recovering financially??? Stockel is not infallible.

Anyway, should be a top notch gun from an excellent maker.

Ed

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forum...;Words=perkes&Search=true#Post598089

There are several >>Perkes<< threads around...


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Thanks, I appreciate the response.

One of the things I'd read was that the elder Perkes won the lawsuit with Westley Richards, but that the costly fight bankrupted him.

Thank you, and appreciated.

That would be the height of irony--win the case but lose everything anyway.......

Ed

Not the first time a larger company used that strategy to drive a smaller competitor out of business, nor the last.