Made in circa 1875 and featuring an unusual combination of early bulbous fences, rebounding locks with hare’s ear hammers, and a double grip action with sprung locking bolt in the face of the action. With browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of stylised foliage at the breech end. Sunken concave rib signed “E. & G. HIGHAM. RANELAGH ST. LIVERPOOL.”, engraved with a spray of foliage at the breech end and numbered “1”. Casehardened action with blued toplever and large pyramid shaped firing pins reminiscent of Lancaster “base fire” strikers. Casehardened bar-action sidelocks each signed “E. & G. HIGHAM”, and blued trigger guard. With fine classic English border and scroll engraving throughout. Figured 14 1/2 inch walnut straight hand stock with carved drop points, checkered grip and forearm, and dark horn butt plate and dark horn forearm tip. The base of the comb with small silver escutcheon numbered “1” and the underside of the butt with silver oval initial escutcheon engraved with the initials “R.D.H.”. London “Not For Ball” black powder and Birmingham nitro reproof marks. Barrel measurements (R/L): reproved at 18.6mm/18.7mm, measuring 18.6mm/18.7mm, 70mm (2 3/4 inch) chambers, minimum wall thickness .032/.030. Weight 6 lbs. 8 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrels retaining 85% older rebrowned finish, rib signature clear. Action and locks each with traces of original casehardened finish, crisp engraving throughout. Trigger guard and toplever each with nearly all of the reblued finish. Stock refinished, checkering generally well-defined with some softening. Mechanically excellent.