Frank E. Malin was a English gunmaker who apprenticed at Webley & Scott before emigrating to Canada in the 1970s to set up his own business in Melbourne, Ontario. Built with blued barrels featuring a single brass bead sight on the smooth concave game rib which is signed "FRANK E. MALIN - LONDON, ONTARIO" and has a flourish of scroll at the breech, Birmingham proof marks dated 1981, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened sidelock action with hidden third fastener which displays maple leaf carved fences, "F. E. MALIN" signatures on either side, gold inlaid "VICTORIA/GRADE" on the underside, and scroll engraving around gold inlaid line borders and four game scenes consisting of a mallard on the left surrounded by gold wire, a pheasant on the right also surrounded by gold, a pointer with a downed bird on the underside, and a Labrador bust on the triggerguard. The triggerplate is signed "Peter Cook" for the British/Canadian master engraver and S. M. Lytton for the English master engraver. The gun features bushed firing pins, a single trigger, and tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid "SAFE" indicator. The gun is fitted with a nicely figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings as well as a straight grip stock with teardrop carved drop points, "CMK" in the inscription oval, and checkered bare butt. Includes a fine oak and leather takedown case, turnscrews, snap caps, and cleaning tools. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech proofed at .729/.719 inches and measured .725/.726 inches; choke constriction .024/.045 inches; minimum wall thickness .024/.029 inches; 1 9/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/16 inch drop at heel; 14 1/8 inch length of pull; slight cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 11 oz.

Excellent, retaining 99% original blue, casehardened, and gold finishes with minor handling evidence. There are small cracks behind each lockplate; otherwise, the wood is very fine with sharp checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine.