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WILKES 470 N.E. & 360 #2 N.E. 2 Bbl. SET- 470 Bbls. ADDED in 1995 by THYS in BELGIUM- VERY NICE & SOLID WOOD- FRESH CASE COLORS-SIDECLIPS/DOLLS HEAD
Guns International #: 101834567 Seller's Inventory #: y708
Category: Rifles - African Dangerous Game Safari Double - Fine Rifles
Seller's Information
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Seller: Champlin
Company: Champlin Firearms Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/07
First Name: George
Last Name: Caswell
State: Oklahoma
Zip: 73702
Country: United States
Phone: (580) 237-7388
Platinum Seller
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
5 Plus Days
Payment Types Accepted:
Description:
#5524, John Wilkes, 1 Lower James St., Golden Square, London W.: A 360 #2 Nitro Express with a Spare Set of 470 Nitro Express Barrels, The gun was made as a 360 #2 in 1911, Then in 1995 Marcel Thys in Belgium added the 470 barrels, The original 360 #2 barrels are 26" Extractor Chopper Lump Krupp steel barrels with a Dolls head extension plus a Third Bite, 1/4 rib with 1 standing & 2 folding, London nitro proved at 55 cordite with a 320 grain bullet; The 470 barrels added by Marcel Thys in Belgium in 1995 are 27" Extractor Chopper Lump barrels with a Dolls head extension plus a Third Bite, 1/4 rib with 1 standing & 2 folding, Belgium nitro proved at 2400 BAR; Sideclip action body, Bushed strikers, Double triggers, Extended trigger guard tang to the steel grip cap, Sling eyes, 14 5/8" LOP over a 1" pad, It is 10 lbs. 14 oz. as a 470 and 10 lbs. 10 oz. as a 360 #2, 70% coverage of broad scroll engraving, The wood is very solid and stout and it appears the buttstock was replaced but very well done certainly by a professional, Nice wood with very good color contrast, Splinter forend with a frontal Anson release, Fresh case colors done by Thys at the time of the new 470 barrels, The case colors now are 99%, The 360 barrels have 99% blue and was redone by JJ in our shop, The 470 barrels have 99% blue, The wood overall remains at 90%, The checkering is at 95%, The bores on the 360 are very good with sharp rifling the entire way but has graying in the grooves, There is very light pitting in a small area but these bores have a lot of life left, The 470 barrels are excellent plus, The 360 #2 is the best of the 9.3 calibers and a lot of .366" diameter bullets available. The 470 will shoot 2 1/2" groups with Hornady factory ammo and handloads with Woodleigh bullets. Here is a very solid British double rifle with a new set of 470 Nitro barrels.
The gunmaking firm of John Wilkes was established in Birmingham, England about 1830. In 1894 they were at James St. in London and in 1913 they moved to 31 Gerard Street where the firm stayed until 1925, followed by a brief period at 21 Broad (now Broadwick) Street both in Soho. Wilkes then moved in 1927, John Wilkes senior died in 1927, to 79 Beak St., Soho, where the firm would remain for the next 78 years with John & Tom Wilkes carrying on the family business of 5 generations until July 2003. They remained a Wilkes firm in the Soho district for 109 years. To this day Craig Whitsey, who had been with the firm for 30 years, is continuing the running of the John Wilkes business, from his workshop in Arundel, West Sussex and can be found at craigwhitseygunmakers.co.uk. Stephen Grist in writing about the history of Wilkes Gunmakers stated, "Wilkes guns of the period, producing some really top quality sidelocks, but also, more unusually, a number of truly best boxlocks, of a quality and style that have never been bettered by anyone, a fact well known in the Trade".
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .360 No 2 Nitro Express, .470 Nitro Express