After Huvius' stick last week here is my Farquharson [H-I considered your comments a gentle prod in the best taste and interest!]
After some of the superb rifles here I do not wish to push, although the porn one seems to have attracted much attention!

I bought this as a W J Jeffery at a Holts auction in London
Looking at Winfer's books, it is a very early George Gibbs MBL as on page 72
Action patent number 146 puts it at 1874/5 [No. 212 is 1876]
It was used as a target / match rifle as there is a metal plug where the long range sight [for prone, feet to the target] at the rear of the stock as well as the cranked operating lever. Calibre would have been .461 Gibbs

At some time before 1904 it was rebarrelled or rebored by W J Jeffery, the first set of proof marks being 48 bore - .459 [the original Gibbs???] Or is this the original barrel cut down, now 28 inches?

After that again before 1904 [proof marks used between 1855-1904] it was rebored for .500 express, a calibre I particularly like, although I rang Mark Crudgington on the thousand to one chance he had a .461 barrel - no luck!

I do not know whether to be disappointed that it is a mixture or pleased that it is a Gibbs, as almost all the other makers used Belgian actions later

Anyway, it is what it is and it would be nice if it could tell us its history

There is some case hardening colour, it shows better in sunlight!

Barrel is quite good

Typical Jeffery fore end

Note lever to quickly drop action plate/breechblock

Usual leaf sights

Plug of original long range sight

Jeffery took this address 1887

Two sets of proof marks, one for 48 bore and one for later 500 express
I have not shot it yet

Comments?

TH44