I acquired a pair of Avant Tout, Sandhurst model 12 bores in a trade this year that look very much like the the gun on the Hill Rod and Gun website. I believe that is probably also a Sandhurst model sideplated boxlock. My guns have Avant Tout on the rib (the name of the assisted opening action used thru a wide range of C&H guns over the years) but not the model name: Sandhurst.
I learned that they were Sandhurst models by purchasing a very thorough certificate of origin from C&H (http://www.cogswell.co.uk/home.htm#). It took about a month to get the letter from C&H.
These dressed up assisted opening boxlocks are nicely engraved and are good shooters but this action is not well thought of in the mother country. The assisted opening works with the most force when the gun is unfired as the spring that runs the assisted opening mechanism also drives the ejectors. Once fired (when you would want the assisted opening) much of the spring energy goes to the push the ejectors rather than opening the gun. Hence they have a bad rep and there are many of them out there. So the Sandhurst model is relatively inexpensive for a fully engraved English boxlock ejector.
Nonetheless, I like my pair very much and am in the process of having JJ Perodeau restore them.
