The firm of William Cashmore was highly regarded as makers of excellent pigeon and clay pigeon shotguns and counted Annie Oakley amongst their advocates. This highly unusual improvement on the conventional boxlock design was patented by Cashmore on September 12, 1895, (British patent no. 17040, noting it being an improvement on the S. Mill’s patent no. 19300 of 1894) and utilized a multi-grip action to produce a shotgun capable of withstanding heavy loads. The design was marketed by Cashmore as the “Nitro”. The blued chopper lump barrels are respectively signed “WILLIAM CASHMORE. STEELHOUSE LANE. BIRMINGHAM. ENGLAND” and “SIR J. WHITWORTH’S FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL”, and each is engraved with a band of stylised foliage and a scroll engraved notched extension at the breech end. The raised ventilated file cut matted rib has front and intermediate bead sights. The extra barrel set is of similar form to the main barrels: chopperlump construction with narrower raised ventilated rib with checkered file cut matting and the barrels respectively signed “WILLIAM CASHMORE” and “25 WHITTALL STREET. BIRMINGHAM.” The bright scallop-back action is signed “WM. CASHMORE” on each side and has carved serpentine fences, removable firing pin bushings, a blued toplever and locking pawls to engage with the barrel extensions, a blued floorplate, and an automatic safety with gold inlaid “S”. The trigger plate has a trigger selector with gold inlaid “L” and “R”, and the trigger guard is blued. The action and furniture are engraved with classic English scrollwork. The barrel flats are struck with Birmingham nitro proof and reproof marks, and the underside of each barrel also struck with a Whitworth trademark. It is import marked under the forearm. The well-figured walnut semi-pistol grip stock has a leather wrapped recoil pad, carved drop points, multipoint checkered grip and beavertail forearm, and a blank gold shield-shaped initial escutcheon on the bottom of the butt. The leather case has "V.E. HERITAGE" on the lid, a William P. Jones trade label, cleaning rod and attachments, and tool. Barrel measurements for extra set (R/L): chambers reproved at 3 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at .736 inches and both measured at .735 inches; choke constrictions.006/.005 inches; minimum wall thickness .032/.031. Barrel and stock measurements for primary set (R/L): chambers reproved at 3 inches; bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both reproved at 12 (.729 inches) and measured at .733/.734; choke constriction .041/.040 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.028 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 8 lbs 4 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Fine as partially refinished. The barrels retain 95% reblued finish, clear engraving and matting to the rib, and light wear. The toplever, pawls, and floorplate retain nearly all of the reblued finish with light wear, and the trigger guard retains 85% reblued finish with some handling rubbing on the tang. The action has been cleaned bright. The engraving has some softening through handling on the trigger guard but is otherwise crisp throughout. The reoiled wood is very good and has some scattered handling and storage marks, well-defined checkering, and an old repair to the right side of forearm wood. The leather wrapped recoil pad is in excellent condition. Mechanically excellent. The extra barrels retain 96% reblued finish, are loose on action when assembled, and have worn signatures and breech end engraving. The case is very good and has mild wear, new straps, handle, and corner pieces; some loss of the label, and minor staining and contact marks on the lining.