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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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NitroXAdministrator
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Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK?
      #311180 - 27/01/18 09:34 PM

Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK?

I was emailed a number of photos of rising bite, underlever double rifles and replied with some questions.

Has anyone heard of this brand before?

The drs looked interesting. Maybe they are a member here as well? If so, please chime in.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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HistoricBore
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Reged: 28/09/11
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: NitroX]
      #311198 - 28/01/18 04:47 AM

Never come across them. Do you have an address??

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transvaal
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Reged: 19/01/13
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: HistoricBore]
      #311200 - 28/01/18 05:51 AM

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/mid...ngham-gun-maker

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Rockdoc
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: transvaal]
      #311226 - 28/01/18 11:42 AM

I think quite some time ago there was a Shirley single shot action-rifle in 600NE. Maybe other cartridges as well.

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karamoja
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Reged: 25/04/12
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: NitroX]
      #311246 - 28/01/18 08:44 PM

There is an advertisement in this month's Field magazine. He advertises double rifles etc. And is based in Price Street, Birmingham what is left of the old gun making quarter.
K

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: karamoja]
      #311281 - 29/01/18 02:19 PM

I will see about putting up the photographs sent to me.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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twobobbwana
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Reged: 25/11/11
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: NitroX]
      #311337 - 30/01/18 11:39 AM

I think that's John Shirley.

Responsible for bringing CNC to Holland and Holland in the mid 80s.

South African.

Believe he did a single shot action .............sold to Giles Whitmore (?).

Ian Clark, formerly of Holland and Holland and Purdey (machine shop, joint resurrector of the Rising bite, big hand in the damascas Purdeys, .410 scaled Purdeys.....etc) was employed by him at one stage.

Shooting Sportsman did an article on Ian Clark and it mentioned John Shirley and his input/association with CNC and the gun trade.

Didn't know he'd actually hung up his shingle as a gun maker.

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Pugwash
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Reged: 24/03/07
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: twobobbwana]
      #311369 - 31/01/18 01:59 AM

John Introduced CNC machining to Purdey's rather than H&H.In fact he was really the person that introduced CNC machines to the British guntrade and some have said he's the Grandfather to modern Gunmaking in the UK.If it wasn't for him we'd still be in the stone-age.Ian Clark was his sort of apprentice and willing slave a very long time ago.This rising bite double is actually based on an underlever Jeffery 450/400 which I bought from him and now belongs to Jeffery's.
The new rifle is actually nicely made and apparently they shoot really well.John decided to go with a rising bite rather than a dolls head but I have no idea the reason behind it.
John was working with a Mexican man named Victor O'farill.O'farill was the money and John had the engineering expertise.During their time in business together they also bought Border Barrels which is now incorporated into Sassen engineering in Birmingham.
I spoke to John just before Christmas and he told me he only needs to make a few rifles a year to stay in business.Hopefully he'll manage this as it would be ashame if another gunmaker dissapeared from the British Guntrade.

Edited by Pugwash (31/01/18 02:00 AM)

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OahuKaneohe
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: Pugwash]
      #311387 - 31/01/18 08:52 AM

http://www.hallowellco.com/giles_whittome__falling_block%20577%20Nitro%20Express.htm

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: OahuKaneohe]
      #311623 - 04/02/18 03:15 AM

See this thread for images.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=311622&an=0&page=0#Post311622



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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DarylS
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: NitroX]
      #311628 - 04/02/18 04:56 AM

I do like the underlever, as opposed to a top side flipping lever.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Dutch44
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Reged: 23/02/06
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Loc: Missouri
Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: DarylS]
      #311709 - 05/02/18 02:43 PM

Beautiful rifle, do we know Mr. Shirley's prices for his guns?

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tinker
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Reged: 12/03/05
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: Dutch44]
      #311710 - 05/02/18 03:51 PM

Smooth design.
I really like snap action doubles. That rising bite fastener is slick!

More photos from every angle are needed...


Cheers
Tinker

--------------------
--Self-Appointed Colonel, DRSS--



"It IS a dangerous game, and so named for a reason, and you can't play from the keyboard. " --Some Old Texan...

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paradox_
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: tinker]
      #311723 - 05/02/18 07:42 PM

Does anyone know if the original Jeffery snap ULs had a vertical bolt ( Rising bite)...or a traditional top extension??

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Walk softly and carry a big stick

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Pugwash
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Re: Has anyone heard of Shirley double rifles from the UK? [Re: paradox_]
      #311725 - 05/02/18 08:19 PM

It had a traditional dolls head extension.

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