"The Hercules" Damascus smokeless 12 gauge shotgun

Description:

An unusual English made shotgun. One of the very few that straddles the awkward gap in the late 1800's between the invention of smokeless powder and the beginning of non-damascus steels in shotgun barrel production.

Marked with Birmingham proofs, and smokeless rated. Made by one of the many boutique gunmakers in the area, unmarked except for serials, proofs, gauges, chokes, and a very tiny "R Ltd" marking between the receiver and barrel block and marked "The Hercules" on the top rib, as pictured.

Could do with some work or merely to collect, the blueing has faded and the wood has a few chips but the gun functions well, has a lovely figure, and shoots very nicely. I've only ever run a few clay loads through it out of curiosity but she handles like a charm with the Prince of Wales grip, finely checkered stock, sleek forend, and classic English workmanship.

Horn buttplate with what I think is an ebony tip on the forend, as well as what appears to be gold on the buttstock I think this gun was quite the looker back in her day, and to her credit still is, just a little worn from the hundred and thirty odd years of use.

30" barrels, as to be expected, chokes are marked as being full and modified, dual triggers, side-lock action, clean inside and out.

Any information that anyone has on the gun would be appreciated as I can't find anything unless it's a Purdey or a Boss, which would be nice, but I don't think is the case.

Lockup is a touch loose, but is otherwise in good working order.