All the Bells & Whistles; well almost!

[T'owd Mon]

I thought I would bring this out of the gun cabinet this time. An example from the Birmingham firm of the Midland Gun Company. The company was founded around 1878 and produced guns under its own name and also to supply to the general trade. Many a gun bears a name from some London, Scottish or provincial address that first saw light of day in the Midland gun works. Guns were made from the most basic work-a-day hammer gun to best sidelock ejectors that would rival anything and even muzzle loaders still being made until just before the second world war. They produced quite lavish catalogues. Guns could be ordered as standard to the catalogue but with a number of variations as to barrel length, chamber length, whether steel or Damascus barrels, up-graded engraving, single or double trigger and also a choice from the standard 12 bore to be obtained in either 16 or 20 bore. In fact if you wanted it they would make it. This one is from my collection and is a bit of an anomaly. The 1936 catalogue lists it as the 'Best Ejector Gun De Lux Model. 12, 16 or 20 bore. As standard it had rose & scroll engraving, straight hand stock and with 2 1/2" chambers. Barrel lengths 25" to 32". A basic English Game Gun. List price £35. Then we come to my example. Extra features, all at extra cost, 3" magnum chambering, Ivory bead foresight, 22 carat Gold oval in stock and last but not least a single trigger; the cost of this last feature was a whopping £10! Almost a third of the cost of the entire gun. But now comes the anomaly; my gun was ordered as a non-ejector! It is somewhat of a puzzle why the owner ordered it as such, Surely money did not seem to be important. Mine has 28 inch barrels and each bored the same at just shy of being full choke. Not quite a Trap Gun and not really a Wildfowler. As all Midland records were lost due to Hitler's chums bombing Birmingham I suppose it will always remain a mystery. I also have a sidelock non-ejector 20 bore gun known as the Dreadnought Model. Catalogue cost £10 - 5 shillings. When I can get a photo I will post it and you will wonder why the single trigger when for just 5 shillings extra a nice sidelock gun could be bought. If you want to learn more about the Midland Gun Company I can recommend 'Midland Gun Company A Short History by Guy N. Smith (I know because I helped to write it).

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[sakodude]

WOW!! Simply gorgeous.

[T'owd Mon]

Just taken a couple of pictures of my 20 bore 'Dreadnought' model as mentioned. Sorry about the foot in the picture! The 12 bore Dreadnought was £9 15 shillings and could be had in 16 bore or 20 bore; as in this case, for just 10 shillings more. So for that single trigger option this little gun could be had for or the cost of 100 12 bore cartridges. Forgot to mention that the single trigger 12 bore is on the cover of the book. Another plug!!

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[PFD45]

Gorgeous!
Thanks for showing these off.
Now I have to go find a shirt that doesn't have drool all over it.

[Chiro1989]

Wow, just wow. Are those original, no restoration?

[Elk Creek]

Wow! Just wow!

[Diver43]

What a fantastic collection.

[T'owd Mon]

No, all as original. The only change was to the 20 bore that at some time had its chambers lengthened to 2 3/4" from the original 2 1/2" and submitted for re-proof. I've had the 12 bore for many years. The 20 was bought from Chaplin's Gunmakers in Winchester, Hampshire in 2010. The 12 bore is the only gun I have ever found that will pattern BB shot with a perfect even spread. I sometimes wonder if it was ordered by someone who had access to some inland goose shooting on a private estate where it would not be subject to hard use. Midland G.C made dedicated wildfowl guns called the 'Superior Duck Gun' and a Trap gun called the 'Claybird'.