Gents:
I have penned a detailed article for the Africa Hunter on this double I just acquired. But, in a nutshell:

Made in 1878 by Gye and Moncrieff of London. .577-500 no2 caliber, 28" barrels, rebounding hammers, lower rib extension for a third bite, top lever, full engraving, weight a heavy 11 pounds (barrels alone weigh 7 1/4 pounds). Extra shotgun barrels in 12-bore, 32" long, choked cylinder and cylinder, weight 7 3/4 pounds. Fitted in a two-tier oak and leather case with all accessories for cleaning and reloading (see the photos).

Now, the history. Made for Joseph Campbell Shorb. Son of a Maryland MD, he was also a doctor and surgeon in the Civil War. He resigned his post in 1863 and moved to California with his younger brother, James Debarth Shorb. James married the daughter of a wealthy former mountain man and California pioneer and developed San Gabriel Winery--at the time the biggest in the world capable or pressing 250 tons of grapes per day with storage tanks for 1.5 million gallons. Interestinly, his father in law married a second time and had four more kids. One daughter, Ruth, married George Patton, and were parents of the famous WWII general.

J. Campbell continued in medicine and was a well known and connected doctor in southern CA. He ran for the US senate but was defeated. He married the daughter of a US senator. Unfortunately he suffered from a nervous disorder making it nearly impossible to sleep. So, to sleep he used morphine until he became tolerant to the drug. Then, he used chloroform. On October 1, 1889, after five sleepless nights, he fell asleep with the chloroform-soaked cloth on this face and died.

Here is his rifle and shotgun.

Quite a find and quite a story. Trust you'll be hanging onto that one for the duration.

Nice rifle Cal!
You will grow to love the 500No.2. Have four rifles in that chambering myself...

Beautiful rifle and ballsy previous owner. Chloroform for sleep.....that takes some nut...

Very interesting piece of history! Congratulations.

Gents:
For the complete history on the original owner and the maker, see my website <calpappas.com> and click on double rifles. It is the top post.
Cheers,
Cal

Beautiful gun.
It has the lines of a great field shotgun and looks to be fast handling.

That's a wonderful find Cal!
Congratulations on being the present caretaker of such a work of art.

Hello Cal,

Congratulations on a wonderful find with such remarkable History. It's amazing that all the accessories have remained with the rifle over the years.

quote:

Originally posted by buckstix:
Hello Cal,

Congratulations on a wonderful find with such remarkable History. It's amazing that all the accessories have remained with the rifle over the years.

Buck:
Vintage firearms are nice but, as you know with your 20-577, if they have history AND a name with them they are very special. You should join us on May 7th for our Alaska double rifle shoot and bring your 20-577 with you and enjoy the chance to shoot 50+ doubles from .350 no2 up to 4-bore and everything in between. If you have some extra miles and a few free days, fly up. We'll make arrangements for a place to stay and transportation.
Cal

Lovely rifle, Cal
Love all the bits and bobs with it.

Nitro

Stunning...

I really like the tight scroll engraving.

It seems the finest engraving was in the 1800s and as time progressed engraving opened up as was not as fime. Look at the H&H Royals of the 1930s and after the war and compare with earlier rifles.
The older the better--just like women!
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
It seems the finest engraving was in the 1800s and as time progressed engraving opened up as was not as fime. Look at the H&H Royals of the 1930s and after the war and compare with earlier rifles.
The older the better--just like women!
Cal

I'm not sure I agree with that statement. Some makers such as Boss, Churchill and Lancaster maintained the small scroll as factory engraving. Most makers would provide what ever scroll pattern the buyer stipulated.

I can't disagree with your statement but, in general terms and not specific, from what I've seen engraving on doubles is not as fine in the later years as compared with the earlier years. My experience only from a general standpoint. In my safe the earlier doubles (Whistler, Reilly, Gye and Moncrieff, Holland is tighter and more fine than later Holland, Lang, Lancaster, Cogswell).
Cheers,
Cal

Nice find, how does it shoot?
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:
Nice find, how does it shoot?
Bill

I've a bit of practice and 3" at 50 yards for an initial target or two. I'm off for a couple of weeks vacation out of state and I will shoot extensively upon my return and post some targets.

I just booked an elephant and plains game hunt for July but this rifle is a bit light for big game. Perhaps a future year for plains game or a cat to have her preform in the field.

Right now, 55 grains of IMR 4198 shoots well but the original mould that is in the case is for paper patch bullets of only 300 grains weight. With hollow point pin. I don't have any experience with paper patch but it may be time to learn this spring.
Cheers,
Cal

Cal I know you know about this site but as a reminder.
http://castboolits.gunloads.co...eless-Paper-Patching
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:
Cal I know you know about this site but as a reminder.
http://castboolits.gunloads.co...eless-Paper-Patching
Bill

Thanks, Bill, and I will also try powder coating, too, upon my return.
Cal

I think I did see a forum on that web site dealing with coatings.
That 300gr hollow point would make a great Texas pig load.
Bill