Those proof marks are indicative of the dates of proof of 1875 until 1887. I suspect that James Ashton & Sons, Huntingdon were what the British call iron mongers (here we would say hardware store owners) and the gun was purchased by them from a Birmingham gunmakers who directed that the James Ashton name be engraved upon the gun in the actual gunmakers instructions to the engraver (common practice in the gun trade). Nigel Brown in his Vol 2 book page 159 references a gun tradesman Thomas James Ashton in Whittal street, Birmingham in the 1870's; but it appears that this Thomas James Ashton did not make complete guns.
Both Authors, Boothroyd and Brown in their books record a firm of Ashton & Brown in York Street, Birmingham circa 1870 as gunmakers---this firm does not seem connected to your gun.
Maybe someone here has a directory of iron mongers of the time frame and can comment on whether James Ashton & Sons were such a firm.
Last edited by bushveld; 09/08/21 07:05 PM.
