[Herman Ruehmkorf]

Hello folks,I was hoping someone with some gun identification background could help me find out some history about this gun.
I found it in my attic sitting in the corner.
What i do know is its a smooth bore double barrel,percussion cap type.
I dont know the gauge,may be a 10 ga.
I'm curious when it was made ,where it was made and what it was used for.
i dought it was a military gun.
Your thoughts ?

Russ

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[RAF Liberators]

I also doubt that it was a military weapon, I base this purely on the level of craftmanship and detailing. In my experience in older guns (which is very limited) standard issue equipment was pretty plain, guns that were privately owned and in military use were expensive so if this was a military gun then it would probably of been owned by someone with money.
I would say that this was a hunting weapon.
Are there no other discernable markings?

[Herman Ruehmkorf]

RAF Liberators said:

I also doubt that it was a military weapon, I base this purely on the level of craftmanship and detailing. In my experience in older guns (which is very limited) standard issue equipment was pretty plain, guns that were privately owned and in military use were expensive so if this was a military gun then it would probably of been owned by someone with money.
I would say that this was a hunting weapon.
Are there no other discernable markings?

So far this is all i have.
The guns weight is 9 lbs.
Its lenght is 112 inches.
Barrel diameter at the mussel is 2 inches.
And i'm almost certain the stock and for stock are made of curly maple..a very hard wood.
Not sure if curly maple is found in the U.S.
There are no other stamps or numbers,just engravings..very worn..
On the side is it looks to be a english setter jumping after fowl,and looking down at the fish head hammers theres a very small engravment of a ruffed growse or pheasent.
With the english setter and the maple type i think this gun was posably made in great britan.Maybe in the late 1800's
I have looked very hard with a maginfine glass for any #"s but no luck.
The strange thing is my father was not a hunter and when i would go hunting with a friend "White tails" he would just shake his head.His brother was a hunter like me,but what is an 1800's mussel loading shot gun doing in my attic.
Thats the mystery to me.

[RAF Liberators]

England would also be my guess, I've seen a number of similar guns in displays in country manor's etc. They may have been a present to a game keeper relative of yours from days gone by. Don't forget a large portion of the US originates from England, which is why I can't understand why no one likes us (it could be the whole war of independance thing or the world domination bit )
If I were you I would be looking at sending images to Christies or Southerbys and seeing if you can get a free evalutaion, they may even be able to give you some more details about the period etc. Whatever you do don't take them to your local Antique dealer

[Herman Ruehmkorf]

Don't forget a large portion of the US originates from England, which is why I can't understand why no one likes us (it could be the whole war of independance thing or the world domination bit )

RAF,That comment LMAO...
Don't worry about that partner you have at least one friend on the other side of the Pond..lol

A friend of mine was looking into this on a few auction sites and found that the percussion cap type guns were introduced sometime in the mid 1800's.
So this gun maybe early 1850's-1860's. Jezz i wish it had # or something that would indicate its orrigin and maker...That would be great.

I agree i would never briing it to dealer they would probely give you a fraction of what it is worth.

Honestly its probley worth close to nothing,one hammer is tottaly missing and if you look closely you'll notice there a bolt in the stock and the wire is holding the stock together as well.

It will make a nice Wall hanger.
And i'll think up some story behind it like....lol
"This very gun was given to John Smith during his adventures and exploration's of Virgina and the chefapeak bay area".
Opps sorry wrong century..lol

[Wustenfuchs]

I'm thinking English too. I've seen a near exact copy of that wire-work on the stock on a couple of old English longarms, as well as on a Lee Enfield (!?!).

[Panzermacher]

Need some pics of ANY stampings on the barrels/lockplate to determine better. It "Appears" to be an "L.C.Smith Double barrel 12ga Shotgun, circa 1860s/70's. I have one VERY similar to it. L.C.Smith I believe is an English company??? (Not sure myself, never really looked it up)

It is most definitely a Hunting/Trap shooting weapon. Looks to missing alot of pieces tho....and NOT fireable with today's modern powders. From the limited pics....I don't think the barrel is Damaskas steel...and that could put it a date as early as 1850's. It is Muzzle Loaded, I can see that from the fact it has no Barrel break...Need some more pics Russ....

[Herman Ruehmkorf]

Panzermacher said:

Need some pics of ANY stampings on the barrels/lockplate to determine better. It "Appears" to be an "L.C.Smith Double barrel 12ga Shotgun, circa 1860s/70's. I have one VERY similar to it. L.C.Smith I believe is an English company??? (Not sure myself, never really looked it up)

It is most definitely a Hunting/Trap shooting weapon. Looks to missing alot of pieces tho....and NOT fireable with today's modern powders. From the limited pics....I don't think the barrel is Damaskas steel...and that could put it a date as early as 1850's. It is Muzzle Loaded, I can see that from the fact it has no Barrel break...Need some more pics Russ....

Panermacher,there are no stamps etc.
After many hours of research I found an almost Dead Ringer at an auction site.There are some diffrences in metal work and engravings but esentially this is the gun.
It says in its description mid 1850's Demascus type belgium.iteresting the description of the gun is almost identical to mine..no # names etc.
Heres the site i found it at.. AA Auction 8942842 (Ended 01/02/2009, 06:24:44 PST) Percussion Damascus Hammer Double Shotgun 12 Bore

Im almost tempted to put a bid in on this fireable antique.A very beatiful gun indeed when it was new.

Russ

[Panzermacher]

Hit the date spot on...Missed the Belgium manufacture Look for a red or black stamp in the wood on the buttstock.... it "may" have a Leige, Bel. stamp (possibly)

It does look pretty close to the one up for action! The one for auction is NICE!!!

[RAF Liberators]

Surely with some TLC your's could look almost as good?

[Holly6]

Herman, Sorry I'm late getting to this, but you might try removing the barrel from the forestock. Many manufacturers imprinted the bottom of the barrels with serial #'s and mfg markings.

Luck Hal