Nesmuck's Gun?

[nit wit]

If you ever read Nesmuck book on canoeing the Adirondacks you might have seen this combination gun on the cover of the book. We are having a GEEZER SHOOT in August with a hunting scenario. I am using this as it's a .40cal rifle on top and a .58 cal smoothbore on the bottom. I shot it at 25 yards at a crow target. I got the .40 dialed in and then shot 60 gr of shot over 50 grains of 3F, good pattern. Just for the heck of it I shot a .570 ball, bare ball. 60 gr 3F. I hit the crow in the neck. Pretty impressed!
Nit Wit

 

[Notchy Bob]

I think Nessmuck’s rifle was a Billinghurst. Is that one a Billinghurst, also?

In any event, it sounds like you got yourself a shooter! Good luck in your geezer match!

Notchy Bob

 

[NorthFork]

@nit wit

Provenance on that rifle?? Do you know any of the history of it?

 

[Gtrubicon]

I’d like to know more also. I’ve never seen a combo gun like that.

 

[OLUT]

Nit Wit has a very nice (and accurate) percussion combination gun with a typical back action lock for the top barrel and an under hammer lock for the bottom one. In one of Sears' book he mentions his favorite rifle was a single barrel Billinghurst, but on the cover of the specific book that Nit Wit mentions Sears

holds a gun that is similar to the posted one. I don't know whether Sears (Nessmuk) owned it or whether it was merely a studio prop for the photo ... These guns were fairly common in southern New York State and northern Pennsylvania with several different makers. Here are a few in my collection. (Sorry for the messed up photo loading that I just did)

 

[Gtrubicon]

Nit Wit has a very nice (and accurate) percussion combination gun with a typical back action lock for the top barrel and an under hammer lock for the bottom one. In one of Sears' book he mentions his favorite rifle was a single barrel Billinghurst, but on the cover of the specific book that Nit Wit mentions SearsView attachment 240009 holds a gun that is similar to the posted one. I don't know whether Sears (Nessmuk) owned it or whether it was merely a studio prop for the photo ... These guns were fairly common in southern New York State and northern Pennsylvania with several different makers. Here are a few in my collection. (Sorry for the messed up photo loading that I just did)

Incredible collection, what range of caliber a they in?

 

[OLUT]

Of the 21 guns of this type in my collection about half are "rifle over rifle". The others are "rifle over smoothbore". Rifles run from .36 to .42 caliber and the smoothbores go from 12 to 28 gauge (.55 caliber equivalent)

 

[nit wit]

@nit wit

Provenance on that rifle?? Do you know any of the history of it?

No, she's mad at me and not talking!
NW

 

[nit wit]

Of the 21 guns of this type in my collection about half are "rifle over rifle". The others are "rifle over smoothbore". Rifles run from .36 to .42 caliber and the smoothbores go from 12 to 28 gauge (.55 caliber equivalent)

Superb collection!
Nit Wit

 

[OldRust]

Superb collection!
Nit Wit

Those O/U rifles wouldn’t happen to be made by Harder of Lock Haven,PA would they? They look similar to Harder's to me.

Thanks
O.R.

 

[OLUT]

Hey Old Rust, I'll start another thread on Jacob Harder rather than side-track Nit Wit's original posting (I'm interested in how his GEEZER SHOOT works out next month).
Without better pictures of Nessmuk's over under guns or a hands-on inspection, my guess is that the pictured gun was PROBABLY made in Tioga County, Pennsylvania ( by either William E Robbins or Josial Harding?)

 

[OldRust]

Hey Old Rust, I'll start another thread on Jacob Harder rather than side-track Nit Wit's original posting (I'm interested in how his GEEZER SHOOT works out next month).
Without better pictures of Nessmuk's over under guns or a hands-on inspection, my guess is that the pictured gun was PROBABLY made in Tioga County, Pennsylvania ( by either William E Robbins or Josial Harding?)

Yes It's to easy to hijack a thread, and often unintentional. Thank you I'm also looking forward to Nit Wits report

Thanks,
O.R.