OLD SOUTHERN SHOTGUN

[jhamner]

I was wondering if any of you out there have been fortunate enough to purchase a copy of "Confederate and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns" by Russ Pritchard, Jr. and John Ashworth, Jr. I'm afraid I don't have the means for such a purchase although I'm sure it's worth every penny! I was just hoping if one of you does have a copy if you would check on a Richmond, Va. importer's name on my old double barreled sawed off percussion shotgun for me--the name is Johnson--please see photo. (Click on photo for larger image)
Thank you SO much!!!

 

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[firemanphob]

Couldn't make out the picture. It doesn't say Iver Johnson by any chance. they made firearms years ago.

 

[mcb66]

A London made firearm should have proof marks. There were some Belgium made knock offs made to be very similar to the London ones.

 

[Rookster]

Looks in good shape from what I can see.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I read "Imported by Amd m Johnson and ? ? Richmond". Below that it says "London Fine Twist". Can you post a few pictures of the whole gun?

 

[jhamner]

I read "Imported by Amd m Johnson and ? ? Richmond". Below that it says "London Fine Twist". Can you post a few pictures of the whole gun?

Here are some more pics.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Thanks. The last picture shows the hallmarks so hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to decipher them for you. That's a good looking gun.How much has it been sawed off?

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

Beautiful gun. How do you know it is sawed off?

 

[s.c.shooter]

Are you sure its a shotgun and not a double rifle ? If it says twist I think it might mean that it has rifling in the barrels ? Are the barrels smooth inside ?

 

[jhamner]

Thanks. The last picture shows the hallmarks so hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to decipher them for you. That's a good looking gun.How much has it been sawed off?

Not sure,,,,,,from the looks of the solder at the end of the barrels, it may not have been sawed off after all!

 

[jhamner]

Beautiful gun. How do you know it is sawed off?

Thank you. I'm beginning to think it may not have been............the ribbing between the ends of the barrels looks intact to me.

 

[jhamner]

Are you sure its a shotgun and not a double rifle ? If it says twist I think it might mean that it has rifling in the barrels ? Are the barrels smooth inside ?

Yes--smooth inside, I think the term "twist" refers to the Damascus barrels. Looks like about a 16 or 20 gauge barrel size.

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

This link may help some.

Damascus-Barrels Forge Welded Barrels Research & Information

 

[jhamner]

This link may help some.

Damascus-Barrels Forge Welded Barrels Research & Information

Thank you!

 

[huntsman53]

Although the building of Damascus Gun Barrels shown at the link below is much more sophisticated than when Shotguns and Pistols were made during the 1800s and even before, it still shows you how the barrels were made.

Damascus Gun Barrels

 

[Simon1]

I am no expert, but thought the proof mark is very similar to being German and made mid 1800's to early 1900's. Maybe a closer, more sharp picture of the proofs would help as they look a little fuzzy for detail. Their may be more proof marks. Sometimes the barrel has to be removed. But I would wait for an "expert" to weigh in. Looks like a nice antique for sure.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Those look like French proof marks. Not Paris, but St. Etienne. Gary

 

[DCMatt]

The marks are Birmingham. Used from 1813 - 1855. But since it is a percussion cap piece, I'm thinking more like 1840 - 1855.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Looks like Birmingham to me. The crossed spears and BC P and also the crossed spears and V

 

[DCMatt]

Looks like Birmingham to me. The crossed spears and BC P and also the crossed spears and V

Just for clarity: BPC = Birmingham Proof Company. The V indicates a 'View' mark (although I don't know exactly what that means...).

I will also point out that, according to my (limited) research, London Fine Twist barrels were the lowest quality produced.

I searched for a while but came up empty on the Johnson & Co Richmond Virginia. No records that I could find...