Very early J.P. Clabrough & Bros
 

Hello,

I just came into possession of what I think may be one of the first produced J.P. Clabrough & Bros shotguns. It's a 12 gauge top lever hammer gun with serial number 16.

I really don't know anything about these and would love any input. I've attached some photos that I hope shed some light on it. I don't have great light at the moment so I won't try to take a picture of the top of the barres, but it says "J.P. Clabrough & Bros, London, Laminated Steel".

Now you are speaking my language! I'll look it up. My clabrough book Shelton's wife sent me was lost when my house flooded but I will see what I can find. That is really neat!

Thank you! I'd love any insight you can offer!

According to Shelton's book, it is slightly complicated. When the hammers are cocked, do they partially block the view of the target when the gun is shouldered? In that case, it is a high hammer gun, and serial numbers 1-300 date to roughly 1871. In early 1871, the barrels were marked "J.P. Clabrough & Bros, San Francisco" Later in 1871 and subsequently, barrels were marked as yours, "J.P. Clabrough & Bros, London". My high hammer gun 2299 dates to 1875.

In 1883, Clabrough transitioned to low hammer guns, in which the cocked hammers are below the sight line and do not block the target. They started the serial numbers over in 1884, using the numbers roughly 1-5000 in that year. Those were also marked London.

So depending on the hammer style, your gun likely dates to either 1871 or 1884.

However, it appears to have 1887-1896 proof marks ("Choke" and 12 over C in a diamond). I gather from Shelton's book that his table of serial numbers is somewhat approximate, so perhaps it dates from after 1884, or was made in that year and only proofed later. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will sort this out for us.