Original British 16 Bore Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun by Rippon & Burton in Grade 2 “As Found” Condition – c. 1840 Original Items

Original item: One of a Kind. Over the years, IMA has purchased many collections and groups of antique guns, in which case we need to take all of them, as we did in Nepal. While these collections were generally full of guns that relatively good condition, they also had some that were less complete and unfortunately would take more restoration time than we were able to give them. We kept them in storage, possibly for future products, but have now decided to offer these “As Found” antique firearms to our customers as restoration projects. These are all original and as we received them, except for cleaning the dirt and grime off the exterior.

Please note that these are still real antique guns, and are being sold in “As is” condition at a significant discount from what they would sell at if we were to fully restore them. We will do our best to photograph and describe them and know that our customers will know exactly what they are getting. Some of these, such as this example, look to have possibly been project or parts guns, and are missing a significant amount of parts. These are being sold in “Grade 2” condition, and on these ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Here we have a very nice Grade 2 “As Found” British Double Barrel percussion shotgun, in what looks to be 16 bore, a relatively popular size for fowling at the time. It is fitted with a 23″ double barrels and measures 39″ in overall length, so we suspect it may have been reduced in length at some point. There is lovely ornate foliate engraving on most of the metalwork, though it is somewhat faded due to wear. Both locks are marked RIPPON & BURTON, for a very well regarded gunmaker and retailer based in London. The top of the barrel still has the faded maker markings as well, which read:

RIPPON & BURTON OXFORD ST LONDON

The barrel assembly on this gun is relatively standard, with the two barrels joined by a central rib. We can see from the finish pattern that it was spiral forged, and it can still be removed relatively easily from the stock by driving out the wedge. On the underside it is marked with the CROWN / GP “Gunmaker’s Proof” and CROWN / V “Viewed” markings from the London proof house.

Condition Notes:
– Overall condition shows oxidation and light pitting in areas on the metalwork.
– Both locks are fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full.
– Both cap nipple cones are broken.
– Stock is cracked through at the wrist, showing a past period repairs with a flat head wood screw.
– Ramrod is missing.

A very nice Grade 2 “As Found” British Double Barrel Shotgun, which would look perfect mounted on a wall. This could also be the start of a great restoration project, or parts for another!

Please make sure to look at all the high resolution (2000×2000) pictures before purchasing, as ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Caliber: 16 bore – about .670 at muzzle
Ammunition Type: Lead ball / shot and Powder
Barrel Length: 23 inches
Overall Length: 39 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.