Original British 11 & 13 Dual Bore Double Barrel Percussion Fowler by Middleton Cut Down to Coaching Gun – circa 1840 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a typical British-made Double Barreled Percussion shotgun, possibly intended for the large U.S. import market. It is marked on both lock plates with MIDDLETON, with simple line engraving around the edges. This was a known gunmaker in Birmingham England, who made shotguns such as these to take advantage of the booming export market.

This looks to originally have been made as a somewhat upmarket fowling piece, with a figured butt stock, checkered wrist, and spiral forged barrels. It also appears to feature barrels in two different calibers, with the right barrel in 11 bore and the left in 13 bore. It is also possible that it was originally 13 bore and one barrel was bored out. The barrel wall thickness on the left barrel is significantly larger. After importation into the United States, the shotgun looks to have had the barrels cut down to 21 inches, making it a very nice “coaching gun”, used for self defense on the coaching lines. It looks to have seen quite a bit of service, and shows extensive use throughout.

It still presents quite nicely in spite of this however. The finish on the barrels is faded, but the forging lines are still readily apparent. The bottoms of each barrel bear the correct Birmingham proof marks, including the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC “proof” and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V “viewed” marks. We were not able to see any bore size markings or other indications, and if there were markings on the barrel strap they wore away years ago.

This very nice double barrel shortened coaching Shotgun presents very nicely, with a lovely patina of age. The wrist of the stock is finely checkered for a better grip, and the shotgun’s fittings are all of iron. The stock is however cracked through at the wrist, which looks to have been repaired long ago. The locks are both fully functional, and correctly hold at half cock, firing at full, however the cap nipple cones are both quite worn and deformed. The original cleaning rod looks to have been shortened, and the brass fitting unscrews from the front, allowing tools to be installed (not included).

A lovely British double barreled shotgun, which looks to have seen decades of service. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1840
Caliber: Left Barrel 13 Bore – Right Barrel 11 Bore
Cartridge Type: Powder & Shot with Cap
Barrel Length: 21 Inches
Overall Length: 36 3/4 Inches
Action type: Back Action Percussion Locks
Feed System: Muzzle loaded

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