J.P. Clabrough & Bros.

[Bruce P Bruner]

I took the colorblind test and this is what happened. I held a J.P. Clabrough at a gunshow in Wyoming last year. I just loved the detailed engraving and fell in love with it. However it was just too far gone to take home, I knew the expense would be too great to bring it back to life even at the negotiated price of $450. Ever since that day I have been on the lookout for one with more condition and that I wouldn't have to rehabilitate. Today ended my wait. Please open the link provided and let me know what you think, good or bad, it's okay. I am excited, it will ship as an antique to my doorstep tomorrow.
https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/antique-shotguns-cartridge/j-p-clabrough-bros-12-gauge-double-barrel-shotgun-finely-scroll-engraved.cfm?bin_gun_id=101622619

[Bruce P Bruner]

More photos:

[Bruce P Bruner]

More Photos:

[Ken Hill]

GI made me sign in to see the listing. The pictures look good, but not much in the listing. The proofs are black powder only. I hope the gun checks out because it looks pretty good.

Ken

[Bruce P Bruner]

I talked with the seller when we finalized the deal. He said he thought the barrels measured at 30-3/16 and the bores were clean. Comparing similar vintage Parker shotguns I see similarities between this one and the higher quality Parkers. It will be interesting to measure the center to center of the bores and compare with Parker frame sizes and the overall weight of the gun. I can tell from the photographs that drop at the heel is pretty substantial. Also, considering Parker valuations I believe that this shotgun has a great amount of enhancements for a very reasonable price. Agree?

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

Very nice...No rehab needed on this one. Does J.P.Claybrough & Bros. have a grading system. If so, do you know where this one stands?

[Rick Losey]

Very nice...No rehab needed on this one. Does J.P.Claybrough & Bros. have a grading system. If so, do you know where this one stands?

I no longer have the Clabrough book, so I cannot look it up, there are now factory records
the book's author described grading instead of by numbers or letters codes- there were low, middle, middle/high and high, with plenty of variation in each

but I think that one qualifies as top/high grade - very nice - mine falls into the middle/high range as a very early low hammer variation- mine has the same hammer engraving, and has a mix of scroll and game scene engraving, but it has a butt plate not a checkered butt

Claybrough serial numbers are a little odd -they changed the lock design at one point to what they called a low hammer - and restarted the numbers at 1 at that point.. that one looks like the "Low Hammer" variation


they are well made guns in the nicer grades

[Bruce P Bruner]

I have researched, I have seen pricing and history but no grading levels. In my opinion earlier guns should be more desirable because later after the company changed hands a couple of times they exported arms to their California location that probably weren’t of the same quality. When import tariffs were imposed by the US Govt. the company went toes up. Just speculation.

[Bruce P Bruner]

More photos:

[John Campbell]

It appears to be a top level Clabrough, built on a W. & C. Scott bar action. Very good condition for its age, too. If the barrel walls are thick enough, it should be safe with modest smokeless loads. Best to have it checked out by a pro however.

[Ken Hill]

Bruce,

I agree with you on the price as long as the barrels are in good shape. The engraving sure looks good.

Ken

[Bruce P Bruner]

It appears to be a top level Clabrough, built on a W. & C. Scott bar action. Very good condition for its age, too. If the barrel walls are thick enough, it should be safe with modest smokeless loads. Best to have it checked out by a pro however.
Nice catch on the W.C. Scott bar action.

[Phillip Carr]

I bought Ricks book. If you wish I can send it to you to have a look. Pretty inexpensive to ship. I can also send or post pictures of mine if you would like.

[Bill Murphy]

Clabrough and Golcher were partners in the California business. Golcher finished up and-or marketed Lindner guns in Philadelphia. This gun has similar features to Golcher Lindner guns, such as the forend tip, the buttplate screw placement, and general high quality of finish and engraving. Scott and Lindner guns shared both Daly and Golcher connections. I'm sure there is more information in the book.

[James Palmer]

Larry Sheldon wrote the Claybrough book. He passed away a little over a yr ago and his family is selling the collection. I was in Reno this past weekend and viewed about 15 of them his wife and stepson brought along.

I will be mtng them in the next few weeks to look at some other stuff but if anyone has an interest in acquiring a Claybrough let me know and I can see what they have left.

Regards

James

[Bruce P Bruner]

Larry Sheldon wrote the Claybrough book. He passed away a little over a yr ago and his family is selling the collection. I was in Reno this past weekend and viewed about 15 of them his wife and stepson brought along.

I will be mtng them in the next few weeks to look at some other stuff but if anyone has an interest in acquiring a Claybrough let me know and I can see what they have left.

Regards

James

I spoke with Steve Evans, whom I purchased the Clabrough from and he said this one was indeed purchased from the Larry Sheldon collection.
I have taken possession of the Clabrough and I am extremely pleased. It appears to have seen very little use and locks up like it's new. I'm enclosing an interesting photo of the rib near the dolls head. It reads "Treble Wedge Fast", as I interpret it, meaning the two under barrel lugs and the top lever latch engaging the groove in the Dolls Head, thus three (treble) locking (fast) points.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

W.W. Greener also used that term on some of their guns.

[Paul Stafford]

That’s a beautiful hammer gun, I’d love to find one to match my Claybrough hammerless. Thanks for sharing.

[James Palmer]

There are a lot of mint Clabroughs for sale on the west....

[Bruce P Bruner]

There are a lot of mint Clabroughs for sale on the west....
Where?