Old English SxS Info / Restoration ideas E Gale

[Moblies]

So this morning finally picked up the bargain E Gale 12g Sidelock from Wabbitbosher, It was a good trip as only came a way with two guns and one of them was mine anyway despite the offer of a 12g single. I picked up two a few visits before so despite the generous offer I had to decline as I think my FEO thinks I'm preparing for a zombie attack.

 

Anyway would love to find out a rough date of manufacture, from what I gather Edward Gale of Barnstaple took over from A Gale around 1905 then it became E Gale & Son around 1936. I understand they purchased guns from London makers and also Birmingham makers during that period so would guess it wasn't made by E Gale. Perhaps someone with better knowledge of old english guns may be able to narrow it down from the flats. hopefully i've attached.

 

She's well made and it would be nice to restore her but would like a light restoration rather than try and make it look like new, The Barrels although sleeved have a few marks inside but look very minor but could do with cleaning up on the outside so re-blacking is probably on the cards, Woodwork I kind of like the fact the checkering is worn and the dings in the stock show its age so might just either re-finish in oil or leave as is. apart from that polish up the metal parts and if I can give it a chance on another 100 years i'll be happy not to mention give me something interesting to do over the next couple of cold months.

 

Any more info on the gun or advice on where to start would be greatly appreciated

 

 

 

 

[wisdom]

Hello

Please take a look at my Facebook page and let me know if I can be of any assistance with any barrel work should you decide on it. Many thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/Bromley-Son-Barrel-Blacking-Bluing-and-Browning-820775534655411/

Seen this guys work.true genius great prices too.

[Feltwad]

Never take restoration too far a gun that is 100years old should look its age not something straight of the shelf.If the stock is dirty take some fine steel wool dipped in some wax and polish remover and light remove the grime but not the patina for the checkering a touthbrush useing the same solution clean out the grooves of the checkering be careful not too break of any of the diamonds Use a oil finish to the stock this will take weeks and even months for a good finish. For the barrels although sleeved I would go for a old blueing solution like Birmingham black . Good luck

Feltwad

[Gunman]

Looks like a Rogers of Birmingham .That is it looks like coil spring locks made by Rogers who I understand built and supplied barreled actions to the trade . Gale also is known to have bought barreled actions if not complete guns from G & S Holloway of Birmingham . If it was made by Holloway it will have a number prefixed with a letter H on the short bottom rib .

Edited January 24, 2016 by Gunman

[Moblies]

Thanks all, the proof marks are Birmingham and doesn't seem to have the date stamp of a letter between the crossed swords so would suggest it's pre 1921? Will check out the short bottom rib. Don't recall seeing anything.

[ditchman]

i must be funny.............but i do have a soft spot for sidelocks with plain or no engraving...........

 

 

my mate had a Holland & Holland Babmington.....totally plain 'cept for Holland and Holland on the lock........

Edited January 25, 2016 by ditchman

[Chris Bb]

i must be funny.............but i do have a soft spot for sidelocks with plain or no engraving...........

 

 

+1 All those proof marks tell an interesting history as well.

[wymberley]

By gum, there's a blast from the past!

 

In the late 60s a mate bought the old blacksmith's forge/house in a village north of Barnstaple. £800 or £1000 demolished. He went for the former and set about sorting it. Soon afterwards he explained that something didn't seem right so he knocked down an interior wall and found another room. In one wall of which was an inset cupboard with a latched steel door and inside was a large tin full of what he thought were shotgun cartridges and would I come up and have a look. Pitched in on the Saturday morning and all I could hear was a smashing and bashing. Got no answer to my shout so went in and followed the noise to discover that it looked like a second wall had come down exposing yet another small room. He was in it wielding a 14lb sledge attacking something black and sooty made of what looked like cast iron. His "grab the bits and chuck them over the end garden wall" broached no argument, so I lugged and he smashed. When there was no sign left of what was once apparently some sort of stove he explained that as he had none of the normal domestic facilities and was probably up for all and every grant in existence, the council chappie who'd make the decisions to save repeated visits was coming to do the whole lot if one fell swoop and was due in about half an hour. It seems that if he'd have seen the whatever it was, there'd have been a preservation order slapped on the place before you could blink thus ending matey's plans. Grabbed the cartridges and went straight to Gales.

 

The chap I spoke to shouted upstairs and down came the resident 'smith. In reply to his comment that my grandfather loaded those, I suggested that they were back where they should be and gave them to him. In town shopping the following Saturday only to see that one half of the shop front had been completely re-done and a display made with the cartridges spread throughout.

 

After that I could rarely pay for small items of fishing tackle and even if I did when I checked there was always two or three times the amount that I asked and paid for. Still have the Hardy 2 to 4oz Longbow that a one armed man had bought to see if he could manage it, but couldn't and had returned it which I then got for a very favourable price.

[Moblies]

Thanks for sharing, doesn't seem to be too much info about on the Gales considering they were around in Barnstaple for a fair time.

 

If only it could talk.

[flyeruk]

When Gunman mentioned G&S Holloway,i went and had a look at my sidelock. It looks very similar to my Holloway but without the engraving.

Mine is circa 1925.

[Moblies]

Same sort of era, somewhere between 1905 and 1921 is as far as I can tell given the history of Edward Gale and the proof marks. serial number being 123 but that depends on how many he would have sold in year in Barnstaple and assuming he started from no 1 when he took over the family business in 1905. Also assuming its his serial number and not the original manufacturer of the action / barrels which I imagine not.

 

If mine cleans up and looks like that I'll be a happy bunny.

 

Thanks

[Oodcoot]

Hi Everyone First post and looking for some help. I have been given a gun from my father in law over christmas. It was his fathers and they farmed at Alverdiscott between Bideford and Barnsataple before he moved to Clovelly 50 years ago. he says he's used it once on a beaters day at Clovelly in the last 50 years while his gun was being repaired. It looks like its fired very few cartridges and is very tight It is stamped A Gale who i've read on here was Annie Gale the widow of a gunsmith in Barnstaple called George Gale and mother to E Gale who took on the business in 1905. the number is 62756 and says Nitro Proofed. I've no idea on it's age. It has some sentimental value and I'd love to take it out to meet a woodcock. I'd also be fascinated to know a bit more about where the gun was made and maybe who made or engraved it. How much would it cost for a good service and make sure its safe. Is the gun worth anything or spending a bit on without going over the top to show it in its glory again. sorry for the long message and thanks for any help and advice.

[kevin55]

Seen this guys work.true genius great prices too.

Same here

 

Dan did my Lang barrels including a new bottom rib and lettering re-done

A great job at a very good price and excellent service

[Moblies]

Hi,

 

My old post, I couldn't find much info myself on my E Gale and have to say i've not done anything to restore mine yet although I will do a light resto at some point. as has been said there are a few members that can help with that on this site if you read the posts above. Barelblacker will get my barrels at some point (he has facebook link above) and several others with regards to woodwork. I plan to just strip and oil the wood and leave the 100 or so years of knocks and scrapes as they are.

 

I dont think they are very valuable as they were probably made by a Birmingham or London gun maker and sold as Gale's although my sidelock was Sleeved so someone must of thought it was worth doing as the cost would probably have been fairly high. Being and Annie Gale would date it Pre 1905 if the below is true.

 

You may have found this already but from an american site. (http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=171234)

 

George Gale established his firm in 1869 at 6 Joy Street, Barnstaple, Devonshire.
In the mid-1870s he moved to 20 Joy Street. He died in the mid-1880s and the firm traded as Annie Gale (presumably his wife) until about 1904.

In about 1905 the firm's name changed to Edward Gale (son?). Reportedly, Edward Gale was apprenticed with James Purdey.

The firm is known to have bought guns at this time from Birmingham (Midland Gun Co) and London makers.

Between about 1936 and 1938 the firm was re-named Edward Gale & Son, and by 1948 it was named E Gale & Son Ltd. The directors were G E Gale and E Gale.

In the early 1970s the company moved to 59 High Street, and in 1984 they moved to 2-3 Mill Street.

Increasingly, the firm became a sports shop also selling games and toys, and reportedly by 1988 they had ceased trading in guns and were selling men's clothing, but the firm only closed in the mid-1990s.

As E Gale & Sons (Ltd), the firm sold cartridges under the names "The Flag", "The Field", "The County" and "The X L".

Edited December 28, 2016 by Moblies