Very Early Side Lever 10 Ga Champion Single Barrel J.P. Lovell Co. 1880's

Serial #309, 10 Gauge, 34 inch steel barrel with a dark, moderately pitted, barrel choked full.  This is a circa early 1880's “Champion” shotgun that bears the early “July 27, 80” patent date (#230,409) on the barrel lug which was issued to Iver Johnson and Martin Bye for central mounted hammer shotguns for J.P. Lovell Company.  Interestingly this gun opens and cocks with the side lever and while it has the provisional hole for the hammer does not use that mechanism.  The very heavy barrel shotgun was clearly a long range gun and remains in very fine antique condition with the barrel and frame a very nice pewter gray with some isolated spots of carbon staining.  The stock and forearm (which is numbered to the gun) are solid and with old contusions, a later added varnish and show some embellishments on the upper wrist/comb and has an original hard rubber butt plate.  Mechanically it functions properly locking up with barrel just slightly loose.  A great looking antique early “Champion” shotgun.  Antique