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Would like some info on this Maker of Double Rifles.. Candid opinion on the Quality.. AK | ||
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Since I've never seen but one double rifle with that name on it and that one is for sale, I'm going to assume that we're speaking of the same .470. I hope I've got the right one. Charles Bowman Vaughan was listed as a London gun dealer, as opposed to a gunmaker (in other words, these guns were bought in from someone else). 39 Strand WC2, 1909-1944; 33 Bedford St., WC2, 1944-1965; 21-26 Bedford St., 1966-1967. It's possible that he was simply not listed in earlier trade directories. As I'm sure you're aware, British boxlocks with "London" engraved on them were almost never made there, and were only retailed by the maker who signed them. They were "bought in" from dozens of other makers in Birmingham. With respect to boxlock double rifles, this was true in spades, as most of these came from a much smaller pool of double rifle specialists in Birmingham. When you're looking at a "London" boxlock double rifle and trying to get an idea of original quality, the name on the gun doesn't make a damn. What matters is the identity of the trade maker, who is sometimes identifiable, and sometimes not. With the exception of the non-typical 26" barrels, light scroll pattern, and side panels, this gun is identical to a typical Jeffery. W. J. Jeffery & Co. was probably the volume leader in the London double rifle trade and used several trade makers over the years, but the best of his DRs (the majority), and many of his bolt rifles, came from Harry Leonard in Birmingham. Leonard was an express rifle specialist to the trade and supplied a number of retailers. I've been researching the Leonard guns for some time, and they're pretty easy to identify. The Leonard number on this gun (stamped on the lower rib, just in front of the fore-end loop) is 1149. I've been working on reconstructing a Leonard serial number table, and my best guess is that this gun is from roughly 1907-1909. I've owned a Leonard built DR for many years and have nothing but praise for it. In my opinion, he was one of the best. Good geometry, weight distribution, excellent build quality, accurate, and rugged. One observation I would make about them is that, while the .400 bores are perfect, the larger calibers tend to run slightly heavy. However, they handle well and are pleasant to shoot. Rusty, BobC, and 470Evans, who also post here, also own Leonard built DRs. 470Evans handled the Vaughan some time ago and can probably give you a good idea of condition, in the event that you haven't handled it. You might want to drop him a PM. Looks like a pretty rifle. ------------------------------------------------ "Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder." | |||
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akrange
akrange, ask, and ye shall recieve! Anything 400 Nitro Express tells you, you can take to the bank! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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400 Nitro Express As always.. Your posts on such matters shows Your Passion and Studious Knowledge of the History of the English Double Trade .. Would this Double in Your opinion, be a Product of the "Golden Era".. AK | |||
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Yes. I consider the pre-WWI guns to represent the British trade at it's best. The guns built between the wars are quite good, but you need to be careful with those from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Holland & Holland, New York has another Leonard .470 for sale on their web site, built for A. Hollis & Son. That one has more scroll, and is stocked with panels, points & cheekpiece. Slightly different treatment of the fences. Very nicely restocked and refinished. As usual for A. Hollis, they just ordered a higher grade. Otherwise, it's the same gun. If the pictures were from the same angle, it would be obvious. The Leonard number on this one is 1962, which puts it in 1915. They want $42,000 for it. They're cracked. It's a beautiful rifle though. ------------------------------------------------ "Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder." | |||
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400 Nitro Express If I could indulge You one more time.. Their's another Double..C.W.Andrews.. Would this Rifle be in the same vane as the Vaughan.. "Trade Gun".. Your opinion.. AK | |||
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These vary. I can remember a couple that I'd want, but most I wouldn't be interested in. Most were lower tier Birmingham trade guns, and not particularly inspiring. However, Andrews bought in a few DRs from Webley, which are wonderful rifles. Boddington's old .470 Andrews was probably a Webley PHV-1. The .400 I think you're probably looking at is not. I'm a shooter and hunter, not a collector. While there are other nice British boxlocks that I wouldn't reject if I chanced across them, I look for Webley's and Leonard's when I'm shopping for myself. They're found with dozens of different names on 'em. Buy the face, not the name - but you have to be able to recognize the face.  Given equal condition, the "no names" should be cheaper than the "names", although the difference in price is nothing like it used to be.------------------------------------------------ "Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder." | |||
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400 Nitro Express As always we learn much from Your posts.. Look for the Rifles Foundation.. AK | |||
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