This rare shotgun was built using MacNaughton’s patent (No. 2848 of July 12, 1879) which introduced the famous trigger plate round action to Scottish gunmaking. The presence of “Not For Ball” proof marks helps date the present gun to circa 1885, and the water table is struck with the patent use number “147.” The short barrels are typical of 28 bore MacNaughton guns of this period. The browned Damascus barrels are each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end and share a single extractor, and the concave rib is signed “JAMES MACNAUGHTON. EDINBURGH” and has a bead front sight and a spray of scrollwork engraved at the breech end. The blued lever cocking action has slender fences respectively signed “MACNAUGHTON” and “EDINBURGH”, long skeletal toplever, automatic lever type safety catch, and top strap with crystal cocking inspection window. The long trigger plate is engraved with the serial number and is fitted with a trigger guard. The watertable is marked “THE EDINBURGH”. There is border and scroll engraving throughout. The underside of the barrels and water table struck with London proof and Birmingham nitro reproof marks. The figured walnut straight hand stock has panels of multipoint checkering on the grip and forearm. The forearm has a dark horn tip. The underside of the butt has a blank silver round initial escutcheon. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers proved at 2 1/2 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at .596 inches and measured at .600/.603 inches; choke constriction .038/.041 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.023 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; 14 7/16 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 4 lbs 11 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrels of this rare early round action retain 95% rebrowned finish with loss of finish at the muzzles and breeches and a clear rib signature. The action and trigger guard have clear engraving and each retain traces of original finish. The wood is very good and has numerous age related storage and handling marks and bruises, well-defined checkering, and an old small chip to left edge of the forearm. Mechanically very good.