Fine Quality Civil War Period Percussion Double Barrel 12 Gauge Shotgun with Great Capture History. ...

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Jun 26, 2010 for:

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Fine Quality Civil War Period Percussion Double Barrel 12 Gauge Shotgun with Great Capture History. Gun overall in very fine, completely untouched, condition. Professionally inlaid on the underside of the forestock is a 1" x 2.75" German silver plaque which is inscribed in script, "Taken at the battle of/ Fair Oaks/ from the hands of a dead/ Rebel Citizen,/ May 1862." Absolutely authentic and"'of the period" and unquestionably indigenous to this gun. The gun has 31" barrels with German silver bands inlaid at the patent breech and "London" inlaid in silver on the top rib. The breech, locks, barrel tang, trigger guard including German silver finial, German silver rear ramrod ferrule, and German silver cap box on the underside of the butt, are all profusely scroll engraved, also engraved at the breech with a running dog. Both locks are hand engraved "S. Phillips". This is probably Samuel Phillips of Onarga, Ill. who was doubtless the dealer who originally sold this superior quality English shotgun. All metal with smooth dark untouched patina, very fine. All German silver furniture also untouched and perfect. Wood excellent with raised grain and dark untouched patina. Missing the right nipple else compete and original in every respect, showing no signs of having a screw turned since the day it was captured. A fascinating artifact, documenting doubtless, a remarkable but now unknown incident in American Civil War history.