New member new gun

[edgarspencer]

That's a very unusual and beautiful gun. Both the tip and latch are incorrect of a grade 5 gun, but the checkering pattern could have been either full, or as seen on grade 3 and 4.
The tip and latch shown below are from a 1904 BHE

[Jimmerp]

Some additional pics showing more of the floral work and the gold shield. The forend tip looks unaltered, I edited for privacy the research letter. It makes clear the barrels. The original owner had quite a notable law career to say the least. He loved the hunt, and the gun shows it. It is incredible how tight and smooth the action is. Ejectors still timed perfectly. It needs the screws placed properly, and I would like to have the left side of the checkered panels repaired if it can be done preserving the guns natural look.

[Jimmerp]

This what a quick google of Isaac Pitblado gave up..

[Jimmerp]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

That's a very unusual and beautiful gun. Both the tip and latch are incorrect of a grade 5 gun, but the checkering pattern could have been either full, or as seen on grade 3 and 4.
The tip and latch shown below are from a 1904 BHE

Wow thank you !!! You are correct. And if you can believe it I know where the correct one is. There were two guns in the auction a dhe and this one. I just looked over the pictures of the dhe gun and it was wearing a grade 5 forend as you pictured!! I have just emailed to auctioneer to make contact with the successful bidder of the dhe and make a trade happen.. can you believe that!!!! Holy lifting Thank you for posting the forend pic..

[B. Dudley]

“No butt” would be the checkered wood butt. Interesting that it does not mention the monte carlo comb. Though I would suspect it to be original.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by James Purdy

Wow thank you !!! You are correct. And if you can believe it I know where the correct one is. There were two guns in the auction a dhe and this one. I just looked over the pictures of the dhe gun and it was wearing a grade 5 forend as you pictured!! I have just emailed to auctioneer to make contact with the successful bidder of the dhe and make a trade happen.. can you believe that!!!! Holy lifting Thank you for posting the forend pic..

So, does the forend on your gun not have the matching serial number?

[Jimmerp]

Hmmmm the forend iron is serialized to the gun. It seems so strange the dhe has the raised tip and this bhe doesn’t. The wood fits well to the iron.

[Jimmerp]

Here is a poor quality shot of the forend on the dhe gun Opinions please.

[mobirdhunter]

What a nice gun! I hope a good stock craftsman can make the repairs in the appropriate fashion. Good luck with that great piece of history. It would be odd if the forends were exchanged...and they both fit(!)

[edgarspencer]

James, The raised (eyebrow) edge of the fore end tip is not specific to certain grades, but to guns made prior to about 1923. While your fore end iron is serialized to the gun, removing the tip and latch will confirm they are, or are not correct, as they are both stamped with the SN of the gun they left the factory with.