This extraordinarily rare shotgun is discussed and illustrated by British shotgun authors Geoffrey & Susan Boothroyd in their book “The British Over-And-Under Shotgun” (The Sportsman’s Press, 1996), pp. 80-82. Whilst classic British over-and-under shotguns are more usually associated with Boss, Purdey and Woodward, many other rival designs existed with some being more commercially successful than others. The Boothroyd’s research ties nearly all classic British over-and-under shotguns to specific patents with the exception of this Jeffery shotgun. To the best of their knowledge, this particular gun conforms to no specific patent and, at time of writing in 1996, no other example of a Jeffery over and under shotgun had come to light. Whilst it is unlikely that this was the only over-and-under built by Jeffery, it is possibly the only identified example known to survive. Boothroyd’s research of the Jeffery records show this gun being sold in 1925, a product of the so-called “Golden Age” of British gun making. With blued barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end, the upper barrel signed “W.J. JEFFERY & CO. LTD. 26. BURY STREET. ST. JAMES’S LONDON.” and with bead front sight. Casehardened rounded action with blued toplever and automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”, back action sidelocks each signed “W.J. JEFFERY & CO. LTD.” and blued trigger guard. The whole finely engraved with classic English scrollwork. The barrels and action struck with London nitro proof marks. Well figured 14 1/4 inch walnut straight hand stock with checkered dark horn butt plate, carved drop points and panels of multipoint checkering to the grip and forearm, the latter with Anson push button release. The underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon. Barrel measurements (O/U) proved at 12/12, measuring .736+.732+/, chokes .006/.026, 2 1/2 inch chambers, minimum wall thickness 0.020/0.022. Weight 6 lbs. 7 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrels retain 95% older reblued finish with softened signature and clear engraved decoration to the breech ends. Action retaining slight traces original casehardened finish, engraving crisp and clear throughout. Toplever and trigger guard each retaining nearly all of the reblued finish. Stock reoiled with occasional minor scattered age related storage and handling marks, checkering well defined. Mechanically very good with some marking, rivelling and dents to the tubes.