William Ford is one of the unsung great talents of the Birmingham gun trade with his guns displaying not only fabulous build quality but also levels of finish that are on a par with the very best London-made guns. Although unsigned, the engraving attributes the work of the great Harry Kell. With blacked barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech ends and respectively signed “WILLIAM FORD. 4, PRICE ST.” and “LATE. 15, ST. MARY’S ROW. BIRMINGHAM”. Finely file cut matted rib with bead front sight and doll’s head extension engraved with a shell. Casehardened action and locks, the former with automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”, the latter each signed “WILLIAM FORD”, and furniture including blued trigger guard and toplever all finely engraved throughout with tight scrollwork and vignettes involving ducks and a snipe. Barrels and action struck with 10 ga. 3 1/4 inch chamber marking and 8 bore and Birmingham nitro proof marks with date code for 1938. Finely figured 14 7/8 inch semi-pistol grip stock with carved teardrop drop points, and checkered grip, forearm and butt. The forearm has a casehardened Anson push button release and the underside of the butt with blank gold oval initial escutcheon. Choked to approximately 10 bore. Weight 10 lbs. 5 oz. In original brass cornered leather case with some accessories, the lid with gilt lettered leather William Ford trade label. This shotgun features “chamberless” barrels which are absent a distinctive chamber lip and utilize an oversized bore (hence the 8 bore on a 10 gauge chamber). These were developed to be used with thin brass shells with a larger shot and powder capacity and eliminated the need for a sharp forcing cone, which has several benefits including significantly reduced recoil in large bore waterfowling shotguns.

This magnificent gun appears to be virtually unfired and remains in factory fresh “as new” condition. Barrels retaining 95% blacked finish, signatures clear and engraving sharp. Action and locks retaining near 95% original casehardened finish. Toplever and trigger guard each retaining 95% plus original blued finish. Engraving extremely fine and crisp throughout. Stock with fresh oil finish, checkering sharp, occasional slight handling blemish only. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.