Original British Three Barrel Percussion “Drilling” Combination Rifle Fowler by William Moore of London – circa 1835 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. This is most unusual, in fact this may be UNIQUE, either intended for a Patent application or for some special customer who truly wanted something “SPECIAL”. “Combination Guns”, which are double barrel guns where one barrel is a rifle, and the other a shotgun are certainly not unheard of, and we have handled several examples ourselves. They offer the convenience of preparing the hunter for both flying and running game. However, ones with THREE barrels are not common at all, and most that we have seen originate from the German regions of Europe. These are usually referred to as “DRILLING GUNS”, or sometimes just as “DRILLINGS”. This example looks to have been made using a 11 or 10 bore double barreled fowler as the base, and then was modified to have a .45” rifled barrel underneath. We have NEVER seen anything like this before!

This DRILLING is fitted with a 30″ double fowler barrels, with a 28″ rifled barrel underneath, and measures 47″ in overall length. There is fantastic foliate edge engraving on both locks and the trigger guard. It is signed on the lock plates by the maker: W’M. MOORE & Co.. WILLIAM MOORE was a British Gunsmith, who operated at 78 Edgware Road, London, and worked from 1790 until 1835. It is also marked on the barrel rib, partly covered by the rear sight:

W’M. MOORE & Co. LONDON. LAMINATED STEEL.

The barrel assembly on this gun started out relatively standard, with the two barrels joined by a central rib. A percussion rifled barrel was then attached to the bottom, fittings added on both sides for two wooden ramrods, which look to be original. To get the rifle barrel to fire however, there really was no room for another lock, so the designer came up with something we have seen before in Europe: turn the trigger guard into the spring of an under hammer lock!

It was then linked to the right trigger, which can fire the under hammer regardless of the position of the right upper hammer. It can fire both hammers simultaneously, but that was most likely not the intent. The under hammer also only has a full cock position, probably due to limitations in space. The two upper locks function as normal for the most part, holding at half cock and firing at full. Really a great design that gave the owner lots of options when hunting.

Condition wise, the gun looks great, with a lovely aged gray patina on most of the metalwork, not no real oxidation or damage. It has a lovely half stock, with great checkering on the wrist, and a great brass patch box engraved with some hunting motifs, though they are for some reason upside down. The butt stock is fitted with a lovely brass butt plate, and there is a small brass shield shaped escutcheon on the bottom.

All three nipples are present, but worn, and we have not checked to see if they are clear. We also checked the bore of the rifled barrel, and it shows clear rifling, with some light rust in the grooves The gun is fitted with a brass foresight and adjustable rear “buckhorn” sight, but these may be later customizations. There is a threaded hole on the barrel tang, which is almost certainly for some type of long range sight, no longer present.

Really a fantastic British “Drilling” Triple Barrel Combination gun. Ready to research and display! We do not expect to see another of these again!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1835
Caliber (2 Fowler Barrels): 11-10 bore (about 19.2mm)
Barrel Length (Fowler): 30 inches
Caliber (Rifle Barrel): .45″ with 6 groove rifling
Barrel Length (Rifle): 28 inches
Ammunition Type: Lead ball / shot and Powder
Overall Length: 47 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion + Underhammer (For Rifle)
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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