This is a very rare early British double barrel shotgun manufactured in England between 1879 and 1884 for Winchester Repeating Arms Co., imported and sold through their New York store. Approximately 10,000 of these shotguns were imported by Winchester, primarily in 10 and 12 gauge with 30 or 32 inch Damascus barrels. The shotguns were made in five grades, "D" being the lowest Grade, C, B, A and the "Match Gun" grade which exhibited the highest level of the gunmakers art at the time. To manufacture these shotguns Winchester selected a small group of English master gunsmiths to produce them exclusively for the US market. Assembly numbers were originally applied in England by the gunsmiths. Once received, Winchester applied their own in-house factory serial number which was engraved on the lower tang. This example has a single bead sight on a smooth solid concave rib marked "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS Co (Match Gun) NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.", an extractor, doll's head extension with engraved shell design and scrollwork, and marked "NOT FOR BALL", assembly number "2090" and matching serial number on the underside. British proofs are stamped on the watertable, barrel flats and underside of barrels. Each casehardened lock is signed "WINCHESTER REPEATING/ARMS Co/Match Gun" and engraved with light scrollwork and borders and oval scene panels (dog on the left and game birds on the right). Additional scrollwork is featured on the frame, hammer, break lever, and forearm hardware. The trigger guard has an engraved fancy monogrammed "WRA&Co". The nicely figured walnut forearm and round knob pistol grip stock feature checkering, blank thumb shield and checkered horn buttplate. This shotgun is identified and pictured in R.L. Wilson's "Winchester Engraving" on page 317. Length of pull 14 inches.

Very good. The barrels retain strong traces original brown finish in the protected areas and half of the Damascus pattern mixed with dark spotting. The action retains 20% plus faded original case colors. The wood is very good with crazing of the period reapplied varnish on the buttstock, couple slivers on the forearm, minor-moderate handling/storage marks and some wear in the checkering. Mechanically fine.