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British 16 gauge ID help

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eodcoduto

32 Cal
Joined
Oct 11, 2022
Messages
37
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Location
Muscle Shoals Alabama
I just picked up this shotgun and I’d like some help nailing down just what it is. The seller said they thought it was in the 1860’s range but that's all. It has Birmingham proof marks and some worn letters under the barrel. The bore measures .652” at the end and .646 a half inch in.
 

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Its in good shape from what I can see, the stock has been repaired a few times but the lock and trigger are in excellent working condition. I need to find some percussion caps for it now.
 
Here you go
 

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it is a beauty. look's like a great fowler to shoot light loads in.
 
Yea I’m finding info with dates all over the place, I did find a stamp on the barrel that says London, but that jives with the proof marks. Either way its old, cool, and getting fired.
 
It is a caplock so it was made after the 1840's . It certainly wouldn't be made before the caplock was invented , the proof marks are Birmingham BPC is the black powder proof mark, the V is the v view mark . These marks were used until 1904 .
 
The name on the barrel appears to be W CLAR "something" maybe Clark ? There was a William Clark gun and pistol maker in Birmingham 1855-1900 . If you can make out the name better we may be onto something.
 
I’ve looked up W. Clark, thats what the name appears to be under the barrel.
The name on the barrel appears to be W CLAR "something" maybe Clark ? There was a William Clark gun and pistol maker in Birmingham 1855-1900 . If you can make out the name better we may be onto something.
 
The gun is a Birmingham made sporting gun of 1840-50, the name Smith was a common name with 30 plus Smiths working in Birmingham at that period, some were gun and pistol makers others were stockers, lock makers,
The barrel is made by William Clare barrel maker 1846 of 72 Lichfield Street Birmingham which there is a good chance the gun was made for the export market and had London stamped
The lock which is a back action lock and similar to Lovells patent lock of 1835
Feltwad
 
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