William Ford "Excelsior" SxS Damascus 12ga

William Ford SxS 12ga with Damascus barrels - $2800 obo

This near 150 year old shotgun is in excellent condition with no damage aside from normal wear.  It is shootable and I have shot it with BP shells.

31” barrels

Excelsior Action, 7, Fasteners

Ser#:  350 - VERY early production, prob 1875.  This is possibly the second oldest Ford shotgun known.

According to Nigel Brown the earliest serial number known was 347, dated 1875 to 1887, probably from the "Not For Ball" mark which was used between those dates. 

“Not For Ball” marking present -> between 1875 - 1887

https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/william-ford

Ford is first recorded at 4a Weaman Street in Birmingham’s gun quarter. Before his death in 1909, he moved twice - to 23 Loveday Street (the Eclipse Works) in 1885 and 15 St Mary’s Row in 1889.  

Ford’s success as a barrel borer allowed him to expand into the role of a full gun-maker, selling guns bearing his own name. His first guns appear to date from 1888. After William’s death, the company continued to trade and was bought and sold several times before ceasing to trade in 1989.

William Ford may not be a household name but his place in the development of the sporting gun into what we know it as today is secure. He was one of the very best at making barrels shoot straight, and throw even patterns with good penetration.  Ford made barrels for Greener and Jeffries.

William Ford is definitely a name to note and should prompt a closer look when one passes your way.

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It is not known when or where William Ford established his business. He came to prominence in 1875 and 1879 as a barrel maker when he won awards at the "Field" gun trials (he bored barrels for W W Greener in 1875 and Lincoln Jeffries in 1879).

Reportedly, it was in 1883 that William Ford introduced his "Eclipse" light weight shotgun (some say this was introduced in 1887 and this date may be correct). This gun weighed 4lbs and used 1oz of shot (some say it weighed 5lbs).

In 1884 the firm was recorded at 4a (or 4 1/2) Weaman Row, St Mary's, Birmingham. In 1885 they moved to the "Eclipse Works", 23 Loveday Street. In 1885 the firm widened their sphere of activities into the manufacture of barrelled actions.

In 1887 the firm was granted patent No. 8841 for a cocking and ejector mechanism, this was followed by two further patents for similar mechanisms in 1888 (Nos. 2622 and 9348). This was when they commenced trading as gunmakers.