George Gibbs 12-Bore Sidelock | Gibbs & Pitt Patent Lever-Cocking | 30" Nitro Barrels | 1886 Direct Ship

A fine and mechanically significant George Gibbs 12 bore sidelock non-ejector, built in 1886 by this renowned Bristol firm. According to Gibbs records, guns without a letter prefix in the serial number—as this example is—were best grade guns made entirely by Gibbs, while those with a prefix were generally produced by the trade and finished by the firm.

This gun is built on the Gibbs & Pitt patent No. 284 of 1873 (use number 410), a remarkable lever-cocking hammerless design that directly followed Theophilus Murcott’s pioneering “Mousetrap” patent of 1871—the first truly practical hammerless shotgun. Unlike modern break-action designs where the movement of the barrels cocks the locks, this innovative action cocks the locks via the operating lever itself—offering a compelling glimpse into the evolution of hammerless technology.

This example features 30" fluid steel barrels, Nitro proofed for 1 1/8oz, with excellent wall thickness for its vintage. It is fitted with an automatic side-lever safety adorned with gold-inlaid ‘BOLTED’ detail, and the action is beautifully finished with full coverage fine acanthus scroll engraving interspersed with central floral bouquets, all of which remains crisp and well-defined. Mechanically, the gun is excellent and without fault; the barrels are clean and ring clear, and the distinctive safety lever adds an extra measure of charm to this already remarkable piece.

George Gibbs is best remembered alongside Rigby and Jefferies as one of England’s foremost riflemakers, yet his shotguns display the same attention to detail and inventive design. This best-grade Gibbs blends elegant aesthetics with engineering that helped shape the hammerless shotguns we know today—a superb addition to any collection focused on the important milestones of British sporting arms.