gunbroker 233499844
 

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?

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

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

Brent, 55296 is the first hammerless D grade gun.

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.

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.

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/u.../PB2900082.jpg

1889 D
 

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

Thanks, Tom

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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/n...6/DSC_0041.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...6/DSC_0039.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...6/DSC_0040.jpg

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

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?