doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Alex Martin info

I saw a beautiful Alex Martin 20g at a show last weekend. The owner said it was made in the 1920's for the outfitter J.T Lake. It was quite slim with a coin finish boxlock receiver and nice engraving. Does anyone have any info on this maker and the approximate value of a 95% gun.

Alex Martin has Brand Value level three (BV3). Original Quality grade should be grade five or six (most likely - BLE, I assume); OQ5 or OQ6. Current Condition level could be CC2, CC3, or CC4, based on your description. "95%" implies a CC2 (slight use) but the coin finished receiver sounds more like a reblacked gun which is more likely CC4 (heavy use, but no abuse - not a lot of BLE's of this time frame were actually coin finished - look at the action flats for traces of case color to confirm if the action was really coin or colored. BV3-OQ5-CC2 = $4208, BV#-OQ5-CC3 = $3148, BV#-OQ5-CC4 = $2396, BV3-OQ6-CC2 = $3101, BV3-OQ6-CC3 = $2320, and BV3-OQ6-CC4 = $1766. These numbers are for retail in USA of a 12 bore SXS made 1890ish to 1960ish. 1920's fits to these numbers. 20 bore SXS is getting around 150% - 175% premium to 12 bore recently. So, multiply the $ figures by 1.5 to 1.75. There is a 2X spread on the numbers, but at least that is the ballpark. More complete description = more refined price estimate. Lake was an Australian importer as I understand.

Would there be a premium for one of the ribless Martin guns?
Best,
Ted

The ribless guns are pretty rare. You might get some premium if you found a buyer really wanting a light gun. Otherwise, I haven't documented a premium. Anyone else got any sales data on Martin Ribless guns?

Gr8day,
Sounds a lot like a 16 bore Martin BLE that is one of my favorite quail guns. It sold for around $1.4K several years ago. Not much case color left on the receiver and some simple border engraving. Mine weighs in at 6 lb 2 oz with 15 1/2" of pull to a checkered wood butt. Very dynamic gun too. Had to work on an ejector once, but it was standard Birmingham boxlock stuff with Southgates.

grendel,

What is yours chambered?

Alex Martin,was established in Paisley, Scotland in 1837. Most Alex Martin guns & rifles have the following address; 20 Exchange square, Glasgow.The firm operated from this location from circa 1880 upto their take-over by John Dickson and Son in 1970.The firm was highly respected for its target rifles as well as the "Martin rib-less shotgun".A complete description of the rib-less gun is to be found on the Glasgow Museum, Mitchell library web site. The Glasgow museum also houses the more important items of the Alex Martin collection [ Appointment required to view]. I had the pleasure of reviewing the collection with the late Geoffrey Boothroyd in the 1970,s.
The Alex Martin rib-less gun sold for 50-55 pounds stirling in 1930. A mint example was sold recently in Canada for $5000.
It is worth noting, that many of the rib-less guns were made for Alex Martin,by A.A. Brown; Thus the quality is exceptional!
Canadian collectors may be interested to learn that Alex Martin established a business in Calgary, Alberta circa 1900. Some information on this business is available on the Calgary Chamber of Commerce web site.

Gr8day,

My Martin 16 has 2.5" chambers. Proofs are 3 ton nitro.