Charles Hellis, London, .410 28"
 

This lovely little English .410 belongs to another PGCA member. Unlike so many I have had the pleasure to play with, this little guy can be shot well by an adult, having a 14 1/2" LOP, 1.25"DAC, 2.25" DAH. It's circa 1902, but has 3" chambers and 28" barrels. It will be at Sandanona and Addieville, and is for sale by the owner.

very nice, I doubt it be for sale at both?. if its priced right it won't make it home from Sandanona

And the price is...?

There were no 3-inch .410-bore shells around in 1902. Many English .410-bore shotguns like this started life as something like a .360 Rook rifles and as British gun laws tightened up got rebarreled as less restricted .410-bore shotguns.

Trust me Dave, I know the difference between a genuine .410 and a bored out rook rifle, and can read proof marks. The saddest example I've seen was a drop lock Westley Richards , originally .300 Sherwood, that got bored to a .410.
I didn't say the chamber length was original, and I haven't measured it myself, just going on what the owner told me; that they are 3".
It's just in transit, so I don't know that the owner and seller have come up with a price.

Dave's words were "rebarreled" not "bored out", if I read them correctly.

I've seen them sleeved to .22 and bored out, but I haven't seen any rebarreled. Rebarreling them would have been expensive, but not so much to just bore them out, fill the sight dovetails and stick it on the shelf. It's really a shame as .300 Rook, and .360 Rook are being loaded again. Nonte's book gives plenty of cartridge conversions, but many opted for the easiest route to sell them. There's a nice Purdey Rook rifle for sale locally for $3kish. I dare say it would be double that if the original bore was any good and it was left alone.

Cool little gun !

We have a Charles Hellis 16 gauge in the shop for sale . Seems it belonged to some Lord Plunkett . He was something or other to the present Queen I believe and died back in the 90's I think .

What a great little .410. Hope someone here ends up with it and we see stories of bird hunting with it down the road.

FWIW , here's the Chas Hellis "Lord Plunkett" 16 gauge we have at the shop !

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps26e1bc7f.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps7afc587a.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psc2574031.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psdf9a5187.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psa15be23e.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps36677bcf.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps87e6efbf.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psd87fd52c.jpg

If anyone has an interest in this gun, I'll have it with me at the Vintagers. It's not mine, but I'll put you in touch with the owner if you like it.