gunbroker 233499844

[Brent Francis]

I was looking a an old DH 12 ga listed on gunbroker. The gun is advertised as a DH but the engraving looks like a cross between a G and a D. The serial number is very low in the 58,000 range and I wondered is this an early variation of D engraving? anyone know?

[David Long]

Book says made in 1889 grade 3 capped pistol grip hammerless Looks right to me so it is a early DH

[Brent Francis]

wow 1889 thats getting back there. Must of been one of the earliest D hammerless guns

[Dave Suponski]

Brent, 55296 is the first hammerless D grade gun.

[Brent Francis]

If im reading the serial numbers right this one was made a year after the first DH. I wonder how many older ones are still out there.

[Dean Romig]

Good eye on the engraving Brent. That is a very nice example of the earliest hammerless Grade 3 engraving style. It is indeed very close to the Grade 2 engraving style, only slightly more elaborate and with bird dogs in the vignette rather than the birds depicted on the Grade 2 guns. It was early in "Harry" Gough's tenure as chief engraver (1887 - 1898) that the later, more elaborate engraving styles were adopted and were kept right up through the end of Parker production in the Remington era and the onset of WW II.

[Joe Wood]

Here's a closeup of engraving on a DH from 1889 I own. I think it's very similar to the gun you're looking at. I've always considered this early work to be very well done, arguably better than when the later D style was formalized. I especially like the border work on these early guns.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u237/flintchip/PB2900082.jpg

[Tom Carter]

Joe, Could you show pictures of the entire gun? It's beautiful engraving.

Thanks, Tom

[Brent Francis]

Joe I like the older engraving too. Ive got a D from 1892. It has the more ornate scroll work but the dogs are very nicely done like on yours.

[Brent Francis]

what always strikes me is how the same hand that did those realistic dogs would create those odd birds. I guess it was the time period for impressionism so maybe Gough did the dogs and Van Gough did the birds.

[Dean Romig]

If I didn't know better I'd say Picasso did the birds :rotf:

[Joe Wood]

Tom, I can add photos of the gun--it is a very nice one--but it'll be a while. Right now I'm forced to be in the high country of New Mexico engaged in hand to hand combat with the brown trout. Perhaps next week.

The gun is a totally original, high condition DH with 32" damascus barrels. Wood and metal are untouched from factory.

[Jim Akins]

There must have been some variation of the engraving on the early guns, the DH that Charlie Cleveland got a while back is different. If I remember right the dogs were not in an oval but more like the early GH guns, but dogs instead of birds

[Jay Gardner]

12 Ga DH, Serial #56,788; #1 Frame; 30" barrels choked R=Full, L= Mod. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos but they do show the engraving on a relatively early D-grade. A couple of interesting points: the setter on the right side is looking back over its left shoulder and there is a setter on the floorplate.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n308/Doublegun_2006/DSC_0041.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n308/Doublegun_2006/DSC_0039.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n308/Doublegun_2006/DSC_0040.jpg

[Brent Francis]

That looks like a really nice old gun. I can tell the barrels still have alot of finish.

[Brent Francis]

Im not sure the engraver captured the setters best side though:)

[Jay Gardner]

Im not sure the engraver captured the setters best side though:)

I have often wondered if this would be an example of "relief" type engraving. :whistle: Or, perhaps the setter is looking back over her shoulder and thinking if "I can find, hold and point the damn grouse you could at least hit it."

I have seen a couple of D's with a squatting setter engraving. Can anyone provide the name of the engraver?