WONDERFUL 20 GAUGE SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER LIGHT GAME GUN BY F. BEESLEY WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES.

Inv. 21-3279

Cal. 20 Ga., 2 3/4″.
S# 2000 (made in 1907).
Bbl. 28″.

Frederick Beesley was the inventor of Purdey’s famous self-opening action & was originally a Purdey craftsman. He left the firm circa. 1880 to work on his own & is often referred to as “The Inventor to the Trade” as he had over 20 patents representing all factions of gun making. This fine little gun exhibits his normal high quality of workmanship & distinctive styling.

It has 28″ chopper lump bbls. engraved “F. Beesley 2 St. James’s Street London Pall Mall Corner” on swamped, narrow game rib. Tops of both bbls. are engraved “WHITWORTHS FLUID PRESSED STEEL”. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London nitro proofs for 20 Ga., 2 1/2″ chambers & later, Birmingham nitro proofs for 2 3/4″. Both bbls. are proofed at .615. Tube numbers 38114 & 38115 are stamped on loop. Small size case hardened side lock action is stocked to the fences & features non-automatic safety (“SAFE” inlaid in gold) & Beesley patent single nonselective trigger. Action & lockplates are engraved w/ near full coverage, classic British rose & small scroll. Bottom of action is engraved “Beesleys Patent” & lockplates are engraved “BEESLEY LONDON” “PATENT” in scrolled device w/ central crown. Fences are carved in large fern motif, a signature for Beesley made guns. Blued top lever is engraved “PATENT” & small bow triggerguard w/ scroll on bow has serial number on tang. Superbly marbled & nicely figured flesh tone European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 3/8″ over brown leather covered pad. Stock features drop points, closely spaced flat top point pattern checkering w/ mullered borders at grip, & a silver oval on toeline engraved “AMY PEABODY” (no information found). Matching small splinter ejector forend has Anson release.

MEASUREMENTS: BORE DIA.: Left .615. Right .616. BORE RESTRICTIONS: Left .015 Mod. Right .015 Mod. WALL THICKNESS: Left .022. Right .021. DAH: 2 3/8″. DAC: 1 1/2-“. Face has considerable sweep, creating cast off (Ms. Peabody was full faced). WEIGHT: 5 lbs 9 oz.

STATUS: CURIO