3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Finally, after ~25 years without (nice my last) 8 bore.
Just a "teaser" couple of pictures of my newly adopted G.E. Lewis 8 bore full rifle double rifle.
15lbs 8oz, 26" barrels, 3 1/4" chambers, and ~.855" groove-groove with a 1-90" twist. A bit of fine pitting/roughness in first 2" of bores, otherwise excellent.
Circa 1880 or so
A sympathetic restoration to be sure, likely done in the UK; well done period re-case colors, re-brown barrel, replacement stock & perhaps forend, re-pointed checkering..... not grossly over polished.....a very nice job of it, wood fit is superb.
More in the next few days....
- Mike
EDIT: yes, yes....that is "only" a 3" 8 bore sample cartridge alongside the Lewis.....
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40633
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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WOW WOW WOW
One of the original dangerous game DRs before Nitro Express was invented. If it could only speak.
Eagerly awaiting more.
And I want to see those place mats underneath as well.  English hunting scenes, dogs and horses or something else? Deer?
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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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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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John,
"dogs & horses" ....my God man.....those would be "Hounds" don't you know.......damn uncivilized rabble call them dogs.... .
Yes, place mats acquired back in my "youth" in England at a USAF posting @ RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk, UK
Herring's fox hunting scenes....have some litho prints as well.
The "bore rifles" are truly magnificent if one can adjust to the smoke, flame, and punch.....a bygone era. (when men were men, and sheep were nervous  )
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40633
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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I probably have the same dining table placemats purchased way back in 1988 when I lived in the UK. From Harrods I believe it was.
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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
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27685
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Oh my - that is lovely!
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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Tom_H
.333 member
Reged: 13/04/05
Posts: 336
Loc: Southeast, NY
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Beautiful piece Mike. When do we get to see the range results?
Congratulations,
Tom
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Carbonation without fermentation is tyranny
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93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4405
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Wow is an understatement there Mike!
Certainly has had a great refurbishment done, even if the bores have a bit of roughness in them I guess if you put a few hundred rounds through it might smooth them out a bit - your shoulder included!
But we'd never get the smile off your face.....congratulations on your new addition to the family.
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Quote:
Beautiful piece Mike. When do we get to see the range results?
Congratulations,
Tom
Just ordered a proper ball mould from the old Jeff Tanner outfit now called “Ball Moulds .com”.
This is a “brass case” rifle (larger bore/groove diameter), so have done a chamber cast and today will send off an order to Rocky Mountain Cartridge for cases.
The brass is expected to be 8-12 weeks delivery, no shooting before then.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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TH44
.375 member
Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 740
Loc: West UK
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Excellent rifle, early as you say with I think nom-rebounding locks and lovely percussion style fences
The 8 bores are probably the best all round early rifle for collecting and of course shooting
Good luck with that
More pics Pleeeze at your convenience
TH44
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27685
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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That is so nice. A little Scotch Brite scrubbing will help the bores & certainly do no harm.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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bouldersmith
.375 member
Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 629
Loc: Boulder Colorado
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Nice rifle but can it shoot a 31 oz projectile?
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New website http://www.bertramandco.com
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2027
Loc: Denmark
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Thanks for sharing Mike3dog.
Lovely lovely piece of rifle you have there.
I am a great admire of these pre-nitro guns with hammers.
Anyone who has a true interest in hunting in India, Asia and Africa has read books about these boreguns.
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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vykkagur
.300 member
Reged: 28/11/19
Posts: 223
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
I probably have the same dining table placemats purchased way back in 1988 when I lived in the UK. From Harrods I believe it was.
I'll see you one better: My family brought those same placemats from England when they moved over in the 50's. I can't say they were in the same fine shape as these by the time I was old enough to remember them!
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Courtesy of the Royal Armories Museum, Leeds; holders of the G.E. Lewis company records. This appears to be a financial ledger with cost of production of the rifle.
The full sales records unfortunately do not show an 8 bore as #5261.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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500Boswell
.400 member
Reged: 21/07/06
Posts: 1281
Loc: Queensland
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How much did it cost to make ? [back in the day ]
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Quote:
How much did it cost to make ? [back in the day ]
I could be reading the ledger wrong, or the number is not the total cost, but looks like £11.1.8
This would be somewhere around 1879-1882
I have “deciphered” about 1/2 of the ledger entry. 1880’s Brit cursive is not my specialty.......and some of the notes are probably shorthand or contractions.
- Barrels likely from “Rhodes” (Birmingham barrelmaker)
- "Haynes" just above & after "Rhodes" (possibly barrel maker that did rifling?)
- Locks from “Peters” (William? Peters, at 20 Loveday Street)
Separate cost for rifling and Engraving cost (presumably by Lewis’ shop?)
Can pick out notes for: ribs, sights, furniture, stock, eye (sling eye?), triggers, & action.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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500Boswell
.400 member
Reged: 21/07/06
Posts: 1281
Loc: Queensland
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Thanks ,the Holy Grail of Double Rifles !,if I could win lotto id buy an original, and get someone in London to build me a New one as well !
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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Quote:
Thanks ,the Holy Grail of Double Rifles !,if I could win lotto id buy an original, and get someone in London to build me a New one as well !
8 Bores are not for everyday guys....something special, perhaps one will come your way.
There is a Rigby 8 Bore (& a Rigby .577 Ex) coming up in the next Rock Island Auction.....wish I had the spare dosh to bid because I have a soft spot for Rigby.
- Mike
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"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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500Boswell
.400 member
Reged: 21/07/06
Posts: 1281
Loc: Queensland
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There was one here for sale some years ago for 4k Australian was a bit rough ,I think it was a European made gun ,not high grade and had seen better days .
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AK_Stick
.224 member
Reged: 28/07/19
Posts: 9
Loc: Alaska
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You suck! I was bidding against you. Well done.
I would caution you about RMC. They screwed up my brass order for my 8, which caused it to double, and were rather resistant to working with me to get the issue fixed.
RCC brass out of Texas produced me much better quality brass for only a few cents more.
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tinker
.416 member
Reged: 12/03/05
Posts: 4835
Loc: Nevada
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AK_Stick
What was the problem with the brass?
Was it shallow primer pockets?
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--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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3DogMike
.400 member
Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1487
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
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Quote:
You suck! I was bidding against you. Well done.
I would caution you about RMC. They screwed up my brass order for my 8, which caused it to double, and were rather resistant to working with me to get the issue fixed.
RCC brass out of Texas produced me much better quality brass for only a few cents more.
Of course I do! ....and an ex-wife will attest
Interesting comment about the brass.......have you determined what the problem was?
I had RMC do cases for my Lyon & Lyon 12 Bore about 2 years ago and they are great.
- Mike
--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon
“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields
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AK_Stick
.224 member
Reged: 28/07/19
Posts: 9
Loc: Alaska
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The problem was they had no stock larger than 1 inch, and the 8 bore requires 1.025 (atleast mine and most of the ones I’ve seen do). They also cut my rims undersized, which allowed the cartridge to set back against the breech under recoil of the other barrel, which is what caused mine to double. Not an experience I wish to duplicate.
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