doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com English Doubles.. Lang vs. Osborne vs. Jeffery

Hello, I am shopping for my first English made double. I have found several guns made by:

Joseph Lang & Son

Chas. Osborne

&

W.J. Jeffery's

Can anyone tell me how these makers compare? Was one more prestigious than the others?

I have found a very plain Lang 16 gauge that I am considering purchasing..

Thanks!

Forget what name is on it - the quality is there to see if you look for it. Buy the best quality gun.

All three of these makers made everything from cheap to lovely although you will see better Langs more often that the other two.
As Dig says, if they are all modest guns, buy the gun not the name.

Another idea:though late in the game,if you read some books on the subject you might develope opinions of your own and not rely on the opinions of strangers

I am looking at all modest box locks, I was just hoping to get an idea of whether one name might have built better guns in general.

I am thinking from the research that I have done so far that a BLNE lang might be the ticket for my grouse gun. I cannot find much information on Osbornes..

The boxlocks from those makers would be good guns if in proper condition. Possible the Jeffery and Lang started life in one of the Birmingham shops like Webley and Scott. I am not sure if Osborn brought in his boxlocks, too.

Better hurry, Grouse season is already open!

Buying a British gun based on name is like choosing a lady based on the dress she is wearing. The quality and value is what is under the dress or name in this case. The thing that makes it more so was the tendency for name makers to bring in lower grade guns from the trade and finish them or just have their name put on them.

Buying a British gun is real simple when you think about. Does it fit you? Is it in good condition? Does it appeal to you? Will it do what you want? If not pass. The name of the top rib or the action side never made a gun shoot better anyways. Never buy a gun looking for resale value alone. Buy to use and be happy.

Haha grouse hasnt started near me yet!

So any opinions on a simple Joseph Lang box lock?

GG: There aren't any, or hardly any Grouse in OH anymore.....but MI isn't too far and there are some there. Just got back from our yearly 'opener' hunt in lower MI. Grouse are down a bit as compared to last yr and very wild, but enough to keep a guy interested. In terms of the Lang, I just so happen to own one....a 16b BLE made in the 1960's by AG and L. It is very nice, weighs about 6 lbs with 28" barrels. Not quite as nice as a Holland Royal, but nice. I'm sure you will be happy with a J Lang. I like mine.

I never chase grouse in Ohio, there arent any here as far as I know.. but I make it upto MI and over to PA quite a bit. I am glad to hear you like your Lang, I am pretty sure I am going to buy the boxlock Ive been looking at, its plain, but I really like the simplicity and fit of it. The one I'm looking at is choked Mod. /Ful. with 26" barrels. What type of loads do you use in yours?

Charles Osborne was a large and well known firm established in Birmingham in 1838. The firms earliest address was 1 Lichfield Street moving to Whittall Street in 1854. They went out of business just after World War Two. They were a very large and well known firm offering a large range of guns they manufactured, more likely bought in the white from the trade and finished in house. They also had premises in London, Edinburg and at Blythswood in Glasgow. Their catalogues, which were numerous, offered a wide range of rook and rabbit rifles an extensive range of double rifles that were popular in South Africa and India. Virtually nothing is known of the man named Charles Osborne, where the firm by that name was run by Ellis and Wilkinson, Charles Osborne Ellis was a grandson of Charles Osborne and William Wilkinson apprenticed under Charles Osborne, but it appears that the founder only had a brief relationship with the firm. There is a patent Number 292 of 1877 registered under the name Charles Osborne Ellis and Edward William Wilkinson who were TRADING under the name Charles Osborne & Co. in Birmingham in 1877.

From The British Shotgun, vol. 2, written by I.M. Crudgington and D.J. Baker.
Available where all great books are sold!!!

My opinion, buy the one that fits you the best, all three of those makers 'built' great guns.

I shoot RST's and B&P's. The 1 1/16 oz B&P is a seriously good shell for Grouse IMHO.

grouse huntin used to be serious business...one would not usually buy a new gon in sept. and den go huntin wid hit in oct. least wise not in the same year...

I wouldn't dare. I will be using my Parker this season, unless I really get comfortable with this Lang on the skeet range..

As noted above, you can not associate Original Quality with a maker's/vendor's/brand name. All brands were able to get out best work (or any other quality grade) guns. Those lacking in-house skills knew the out-house workers who had all needed skills. For vendor's it was as simple replacing an order with W C Scott or similar. All brands,with the possible exception of Boss, sold guns in a range of grades.

You can determine market value from Original Quality grade, Brand Value level, and Current Condition level. If you wish to discuss further, post back.

D D Amos