Very interesting, Bob. Sounds like this gun is as good as it looks.

Jeffery assigned it's serial numbers in blocks. No. 24382 is from a block that covered guns that were sold 1913-1923 (24241-24480). My reference works say that Jeffery closed both the King Street and Queen Victoria Street outlets and moved to 26 Bury Street in 1914. So, it would seem that 1913-1914 has to be the approximate date.

The Leonard number of 1887, stamped on the lower rib just in front of the fore-end loop, I would have guessed at 1911-1912. Looks like my A. Hollis & Son .400 is a touch later than I thought. Damn. It's 35 units later than yours.

I have no idea what the "*385" behind the grip cap means, but I hope someone here does. My .400 doesn't have this, but I have a William Evans DR that has an asterisk stamped close up behind the grip cap, as you described, but no number. I've always wondered about that.

Thank you for sharing this information with us, Bob. It has been useful to me, and interesting besides. Really looking forward to more pictures. Post a close-up of the Leonard number if you can.
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