British guns were refined and enjoyed the access to fine hand filers and engravers which set them apart. The Birmingham trade was sort of the stepchild of the London makers though they made fine guns as well. Fine British game guns were purpose built for their sport enthusiast which in the kingdom was driven game. Most of their 12 bores were bored for 2" shells. Their loads weren't as stout as most Americans are used to shooting. Once Jack O'Connor said that an American customer commented to an H&H representative that the self opener was hard to close to which the reply was that our clients don't close their guns.
They are beautiful works of art and one can only wonder what might have been had the American gunmakers been able to compete with their trade. Fine guns have never been cheap. Fine craftsmen have never been easy to come by.
