The maker’s records confirm that this gun was completed for Charles Gordon on December 27, 1886 and was paired with serial no. 3370 (a serial number range that had been current ten years earlier). With browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end. Concave rib with bead front sight, signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH”, numbered “2” and engraved with a spray of foliage at the breech end. Action with carved percussion fences and blued toplever, and rebounding side locks each signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON”. Blued trigger guard and butt plate, the latter numbered “2”. Best quality border and scroll engraving throughout. The underside of the barrels and water table with London black powder proof and nitro reproof marks. The water table numbered “2”, marked “JP/PATENT No.1104/5029” (James Purdey’s famous double bolt patent of 1863) and “J.D&S/PATENT ACTION”. Highly figured 14 1/2 inch straight hand stock with checkered grip and forearm, the latter with lever fastener numbered “2”. The underside of the butt with large blank oval initial escutcheon and with blued sling mount, the corresponding mount is fitted beneath the barrels. Proved at 19.8mm/19.7mm, measuring 19.8mm/19.7mm, 2 7/8 inch chambers (proved as 67mm). Weight 9 lbs. 4 oz.

Barrels retaining 95% rebrowned finish, rib signature softened. Action and locks with traces of original casehardened finish, clear engraving throughout. Toplever retaining 95% reblued finish, trigger guard and butt plate retaining 60% older reblued finish. Stock with age related storage and handling marks, mostly minor, checkering well defined and an expertly repaired break at the wrist. Sling mounts of fairly recent manufacture. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.