James popps Posted Friday at 19:47 Report Share Posted Friday at 19:47 Hello, I have recently purchased a william ford side by side sidelock shot gun with 25" barrels & double trigger. I would love to know what year it was made however I have had no luck so far, the serial number behind the trigger gard is 15212. If anyone is able to help I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted Friday at 21:43 Report Share Posted Friday at 21:43 Welcome to Pigeon Watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted Sunday at 16:40 Report Share Posted Sunday at 16:40 From the book "British Gunmakers: Volume 2 - Birmingham, Scotland and the Regions" by Nigel Brown (pub. Quiller 2005), your gun would date to 1928. That would also fit with 25" barrels being very much the fashion. Apparently records (running to 40 volumes!) do exist and were held by Bailons (Gunmakers) Ltd., but they are no longer in business. I don't know where the records might be now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted 21 hours ago Report Share Posted 21 hours ago Nice gun. I love the double beaded action. Have the same on my Coggie Extra Quality Victor. And what a lovely piece of walnut your gun has. Beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted 20 hours ago Report Share Posted 20 hours ago On 15/12/2024 at 16:40, JohnfromUK said: From the book "British Gunmakers: Volume 2 - Birmingham, Scotland and the Regions" by Nigel Brown (pub. Quiller 2005), your gun would date to 1928. That would also fit with 25" barrels being very much the fashion. Apparently records (running to 40 volumes!) do exist and were held by Bailons (Gunmakers) Ltd., but they are no longer in business. I don't know where the records might be now? Fun fact. Sir Malcolm Guthrie the race car driver owned Bailons. Was big into shooting. Still alive I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted 20 hours ago Report Share Posted 20 hours ago 20 minutes ago, Fil said: Fun fact. Sir Malcolm Guthrie the race car driver owned Bailons. Was big into shooting. Still alive I think. Yes, he is listed in the book as a contact along with numbers, but as the book was written around 20 years ago I didn't include that bit as I'm guessing it is out of date. He may still have the records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted 20 hours ago Report Share Posted 20 hours ago Hello, Is that a XXV type 25 inch barrel ?? I remember going to many Game Fairs in the 60/70 and 80s when you could watch a Master Gunsmith working on a English shotgun, I was chatting to a chap on and shoot yesterday with an view to buying a Classic English game gun, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted 20 hours ago Report Share Posted 20 hours ago 7 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Hello, Is that a XXV type 25 inch barrel ?? I remember going to many Game Fairs in the 60/70 and 80s when you could watch a Master Gunsmith working on a English shotgun, I was chatting to a chap on and shoot yesterday with an view to buying a Classic English game gun, The XXV (as in the AyA XXV) has a Churchill type rib (higher and narrow). It's not clear if the William Ford here has that. Not all 25" barrelled guns are fitted with the Churchill type rib, though quite. number are. A friend of mine has a 25" barrelled AyA, but a model 53 (heavier duty and side clipped) that was ordered with 25" barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted 19 hours ago Report Share Posted 19 hours ago 10 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: The XXV (as in the AyA XXV) has a Churchill type rib (higher and narrow). It's not clear if the William Ford here has that. Not all 25" barrelled guns are fitted with the Churchill type rib, though quite. number are. A friend of mine has a 25" barrelled AyA, but a model 53 (heavier duty and side clipped) that was ordered with 25" barrels. Hello, Yes your right John, my Army and Navy Boxlock was 26 inch but XXV rib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted 19 hours ago Report Share Posted 19 hours ago The gun will have been sent to Proof. It will show the so called "secret mark" that you can date it by. Search Birmingham proof marks on the internet. You can also date it pre, or post 1924 or pre or post 1954 by the standard proof marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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