Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Antique Double Gun Experts I need your help

I have in my possesion a side by side smooth bore with a swing lever latch to open and close the action. It has hammers and a double trigger. The only markings on the gun are various engravings and the name E Thistler II Strand London. Anybody know what I have? Thanks ahead of time.

I don't know, but ask over on the www.doublegunshop.com's "Doublegun BBS" thread. Give 'em ALL the markings that are on the water table of the reciever and the bottoms of the barrels and somebody will know what this is. Pix help a lot, but a careful description of the gun and its markings will probably get you an answer. Your'll have to remove the forend and barrels to see the water table clearly (water table= top of the reciever where it mates with the barrels in case this term is unfamiliar).

good luck, might be a gem!

According to those guys Im bust and my guns worthless.

Sorry to hear that! What's the problem? Not English? Worthless? Doubt that; I've sold real junkers for a few hundred and they ended up on the wall of a bar. "Atmosphere" is always worth something.....

Podunk, after reading the responces on Doublegunshop, I'm not surprised you're discouraged. Sorry I suggested them; usually the guys over there are a lot more welcoming..... I suspect that they are right; you shouldn't put a lot of money into this gun. But then, you weren't planning to--don't know why they jumped to the conclusion that you were BUYING the gun or planning on doing a lot of expensive rework when you never said you were. Most new posters get handled a little more cordially over there; for some reason you landed in a pot of crabs!

Again, I apologize for the doublegunners. You hit the old F***TS on a bad arthritis day, I guess.

Since this is a family gun, I'd just clean it up and enjoy it and any memories you have of its owners. How'd it get to Florida from Birmingham, for example?

I didn't think the replies were discourtous, just frank. Especially since they viewed him as a buyer looking for advice. They were giving very good advice from that standpoint and looking after Podunk's interests.

These guys know what they're talking about when it comes to doubles. Not all of them, but the majority know double shotguns.

Podunk, if you google "Shotgun Proof Marks" you'll find references to where your gun was made. You will of course find British marks, since all guns brought or sold in England have to be proofed, but if you find others that will be informative, given that Whistler was a dealer and not a gunsmith.

Right Gene, thats what im trying to find out now is who made it. I just cant believe the guns only worth $75. The other whistlers Ive seen were worth thousands.

Unless it's inscribed, I'd say it's impossible to tell who made it. Looks like Whistler was a sales rep for many makers.

Even if it were built by one of the great names in British gunmaking (Holland&Holland, Purdy, Boss, etc.) it still wouldn't be worth much in the condition it's in and with such poorly executed replacement wood. Sorry, but them's the facts. I think the guys on the doublegun BBS simply told it like it is without being nasty or anything. Cherish it as an heirloom from Gramps. In that respect it's priceless.

I agree about the guys on double guns. They didnt offend me at all, I was a little let down for sure but not upset by any means.