Need help identifying
I purchased this at an antique fair (UK) the other day and need some help identifying it. I was told it's a percussion musket, 1860-70ish.
The pictures include all the markings which i can find, some of which were on the underside of the barrel and could only be seen when disassembled. Judging from wear around the mechanism and the top of the barrel it seems to have been used quite a bit.
I'm planning on taking it to a gunsmith at the end of the week but thought I'd ask here first.
Posted Jul 15, 2019, 2:32 PM UTC
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Its a 13 bore single fowling gun, Birmingham made, circa 1840. It’s not in bad condition, half stocked in walnut with German silver fore end cap and simple lock.
Thanks! Very informative, in line with what the guy i bought it from said. Any tips for cleaning it up and restoring it? And any guess as to how much it would be worth?
It doesn’t need much, just a general clean up. No point restoring it, it’s neither desirable enough nor in poor enough condition to merit it. You could re-brown the barrel if you wanted, that could be done relatively easily and would make the world of difference. In that condition, without a maker’s name or provenance, around £150. What’d you give for it?
Damn, i gave 250 for it. Other people which i met on the day said they'd have sold it for more like 400, so i guess they weren't very knowledgeable. Honestly I'd quite like to get it into working order and get licensed etc. to be able to fire it, so I'll get it cleaned up and look at re-browning it.
Don’t worry, you didn’t do badly. It’s unlikely to go down in value anyway. If you have a current shotgun certificate, you don’t need to worry about licensing. Is it not in working order?