S.Braybrook Downham Market

[paul99]

Several years ago I inherited my Grandfathers gun when he decided not to bother renewing his certificate due to his failing health. It's a well used (but action is still tight) 28" barrells SBS non ejector boxlock made by S.Braybrook Downham Market. Much of the barrell blueing has been polished off by years of cleaning - but to my mind that only adds to the guns value / character and would never consider having it re-blued. It's marked as Nitro Proof, made in England and the choke barrell is on the left but I can't see any date or choke sizes anywhere (I'm guessing that the proof marks and stamps may well reveal that though?). I started out 15years ago or so with a O/U and used mainly O/Us since but TBH I far prefer using this SBS and usually shoot far better with it than any other gun I have or have tried and if I had to choose to keep one gun then it would be this one without any hesitation at all. It was not until earlier this year that I decided to pick up a cheap Baikal for the odd day on the clays as I thought it was unfair to expect a gun of the SBSs age to put up with so much abuse when it was clearly designed as a lightweight game gun - if it didn't have the sentimental value I'd still be using it as a clay gun now despite it being so light and I would expect my scores to increase if I did too

 

A quick snap of the gun:

 

and a close up of the marks - same on both barrells apart from the word 'CHOKE':

 

I've always had the intention of finding out more about the gun but hours of googling has thrown up nothing . I also spent quite a bit of time wandering up and down Gunmakers Row at the CLA game fair yesterday keeping an eye out for anything similar - but didn't and so I wondered if anyone here has an information about the maker / gun, other than it being very light, a joy to use and is capable of bringing down some very long distance pheasants I'm afraid I know very little else and feel a bit embarrased about that really

 

Hope someone has a little more knowledge that they'd like to share or can make sense of the markings...

Paul

Edited July 26, 2010 by paul99

[CharlieT]

It is without doubt a Birmingham trade gun which would have been ordered from the maker with the retailers name engraved on it which was common practice.

 

I note from the photo that it's chambered for 2 1/2" cartridges and proofed for upto 1 1/8 oz load.

 

Super little gun that is worth keeping and will last you out if you treat it well.

[paul99]

It is without doubt a Birmingham trade gun which would have been ordered from the maker with the retailers name engraved on it which was common practice.

 

Thanks Charlie, I had wondered if it was something along those lines as Norfolk isn't renown for it's gunmaking trade AFAIK and can find no mention of a gunmaker there at all.

 

I note from the photo that it's chambered for 2 1/2" cartridges and proofed for upto 1 1/8 oz load.

 

Super little gun that is worth keeping and will last you out if you treat it well.

 

Yes it will happily shoot fine with 2 1/2" 32g loads - though with some it will kick like hell (admittedly cheaper cartridges) others (nearly all premium cartridges) are very smooth, I've slowly been trying quite a few different brands and it's amazing just how different they all are in terms of recoil and stopping power through this gun - something which I barely noticed with much heavier O/Us or 20b cartridges which seemed to be all much of a muchness.

 

The Gun's in better condition than the above photo might suggest - don't think the lighing has done it any favours TBH. It will be well looked after as I like using the gun so much I'd never leave it fall into disrepair. I dread the thought that it might, one day, become to old and worn to be used safely or be economically repaired - hence why I decided to get the Baikal to take some of the pressure off it. With anyluck it'll still be in good working order when I pass it on to the next generation to enjoy.

Edited July 26, 2010 by paul99

[mudpatten]

It looks very much like a Webley and Scott 700. Pretty little gun.

[stevov6]

hi.

 

i also shoot a braybrook.

 

its a little different as it was built for a local chap in the fens.

it is in a fitted hard case. box lock ejector. fully left handed and bored for driven game. a real pretty gun.

 

it is quite an old gun to. but still with most of its colour and action is hardy worn it. lovely little gun.

[Harnser]

Thanks Charlie, I had wondered if it was something along those lines as Norfolk isn't renown for it's gunmaking trade AFAIK and can find no mention of a gunmaker there at all.

 

 

 

Yes it will happily shoot fine with 2 1/2" 32g loads - though with some it will kick like hell (admittedly cheaper cartridges) others (nearly all premium cartridges) are very smooth, I've slowly been trying quite a few different brands and it's amazing just how different they all are in terms of recoil and stopping power through this gun - something which I barely noticed with much heavier O/Us or 20b cartridges which seemed to be all much of a muchness.

 

The Gun's in better condition than the above photo might suggest - don't think the lighing has done it any favours TBH. It will be well looked after as I like using the gun so much I'd never leave it fall into disrepair. I dread the thought that it might, one day, become to old and worn to be used safely or be economically repaired - hence why I decided to get the Baikal to take some of the pressure off it. With anyluck it'll still be in good working order when I pass it on to the next generation to enjoy.

Galleon and Rossen were both Norwich gun makers and made top quality sporting guns that are still sort after today .

 

Harnser .

[stevov6]

yes thats right.

 

norwich appeared to have a few gun makers back in the hey day.

 

my grandfather had a pair of boss 16g but sadly were sold many years ago.

 

my father is currently having a gun built by Mr Louca at Watson Bros of london.

 

i'd be interested to find some history about S. Braybrook as it was a local maker to me.

 

steve