doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Two inch Twelve gauge

Well, it took more than 1/2 an hour, but I found the pic of the proofs on my text. Looks like I was wrong by about 5 mm. They were carved to 65 mm.

Five digit serial number above. So much for my mistaken belief that there was a 4 digit serial # for the S&W guns. Perhaps a different numbering system for those made for the trade or the trade supplied their own numbering system. Gil

GLS

My S&W has a 5 digit serial number. I suspect Hellis had their own serial numbers.

Reverend Drew

Thanks. My gun is indeed from 1937-38.

All the best

Skeeterbd

Thanks, Skeeterbd. I am still baffled as to the pedigree of my other 2" Twelve appearing on page 10 of this thread and who "J.W. Lewis" is. It bears "4016" on the trigger guard which is very close in number to Recoil Rob's Hellis "4135" and my Hellis "4105". There is no other serial numbering on any other metal work. It doesn't have the crossed staff date code engraving. It seems too much of a coincidence that all three guns above have four digit numbers on them with all starting with "4" with a range of 119 units. Gil

I have an unusual C.Hellis. First it has a 3 digit serial number. I measured the chambers and my remarks on my sheet from a number of years ago says, 'Somewhat less than 2.5" Check with shorter gauges" I do not have a shorter gauge and have not checked it. The flats do not have a chamber length stamped on them. I will have to properly check the chambers and get back to this thread. It is also unusual in that the top tang is "bent" to the left (although there are no signs of being bent and almost appears to have been made that way.) and there is cast on. Seems to have been set up for a left hand shooter but I shoot it right handed just fine.

That seems quite different. Does the top lever move left or right? I have seen mention of other chamber lengths like 2.25". But they must have been quite rare and maybe one of a kind.

More pictures of the rest of the gun, please.

Went and remeasured the chambers and they are slightly less than 2.5" which could be the variance in the gauge, definitely not a 2".

Lever moves to the right.

Not great pictures but what I have. Click on picture to enlarge.

Very nice gun, for certain. The Greener crossbolt suggests a larger cartridge and gun than the diminutive Skimin and Wood style.

Tamid,,

Your gun was Birmingham proofed between 1887 and 1896, which would well pre-date the fashion for 2” chambered guns, as would the use of Damascus barrels.

It does not appear to be re-proofed.

I remember reading a recent article in the Field a modern British gunmaker stating he likes to form the top tang to match the intended cast on or cast off.

This article provides information on the 2” loads in the late 1930s Two Inch loads. An ounce of shot and 28 grams of Empire powder. Seems a little spiffy for a light gun. Of course the Brit loads for a 2” gun today are not something you want to shoot a round of clays with.

Ken