William Briggs underhammer smoothbore

Dusty_Traveler · Jan 14, 2024

A William Briggs underhammer smoothbore came home with me. The mark has been softened, but reads:

William Briggs Norristown, PA
Patented Aug 13, 1859 #27 (of 50)

The bore is .675" in diameter.
The weight is 8.5 lbs.
The stock is all iron.
The barrel is 41".
LOP is 14.5".
2" of drop at the heel.

The nipple threads measure .235-28. I found this odd. Might have to make one.

The hammer/mainspring/action is strong, and functions perfectly. It has only 3 parts.

It has a 'patina' for sure

. It appears it might have been painted black at some time? Who knows. It's going to remain as you see it now.

BillinOregon · Jan 14, 2024

Wow! I have never seen anything like it. What a great find! Is the stock cast solid, or is it welded/soldered sheet metal? Is the bore in shootable condition?

Dusty_Traveler · Jan 14, 2024

BillinOregon said:
Wow! I have never seen anything like it. What a great find! Is the stock cast solid, or is it welded/soldered sheet metal? Is the bore in shootable condition?

I do believe it is a solid casting. Note the rough, cast material in the bottom of the patchbox. It is the inside of the left hand side of the stock.

Near the butt on the left hand side you can see a repaired crack that seems to have been done with some type of solder.

The bore has some notable pitting. It starts midway and there are a few spots between there and the breech end. I will further inspect it, with a borescope, after a good scotch briting, to see if I want to shoot it or not. I must get the odd-sized nipple sorted, too.

OLUT · Jan 14, 2024

Apparently the August 2015 "Man at Arms" issue has a writeup on serial Number 33 of this type of Briggs under hammer firearm if you need more info

Dusty_Traveler · Jan 14, 2024

OLUT said:
Apparently the August 2015 "Man at Arms" issue has a writeup on serial Number 33 of this type of Briggs under hammer firearm if you need more info

I'd like to read that article. Do you have a link?

Sam squanch · Jan 14, 2024

I think these were originally painted black as a rust preventing measure. I saw one, it had what looked like leftover black paint on it. Good, simple firing mechanism.

Sandro_Ventania · Jan 14, 2024

Underhammers sempre surpreende!

BillinOregon · Jan 14, 2024

Dusty, if the bore is shot, Bobby Hoyt can reline it reasonably and you will have a safe and wonderful historic shooter. I can just see the jaws dropping when you show up on the skeet range!

tom in nc · Dec 13, 2024

I realize this thread is almost a year old, but I love the gun. I especially like the patchbox.

Dusty_Traveler · Dec 15, 2024

That is Number 27. Gene Moss in Oklahoma owns it as of 10 Nov.

I have Number 11 now. It has a 36” barrel with a .710 bore. same patchbox. It’s in much better condition than #27 is.

Colonial Boy · Dec 15, 2024

Pictures please, Dusty.
Never seen one before and am especially interested in the action.

Dusty_Traveler · Tuesday at 9:11 PM

Colonial Boy said:
Pictures please, Dusty.
Never seen one before and am especially interested in the action.

A thousand apologies CB. Somehow I missed this.

Stand by.

Dusty_Traveler · Tuesday at 9:15 PM

Dusty_Traveler · Tuesday at 9:31 PM

The lock contains three main parts.

1: mainspring/hammer
2: trigger/sear
3: Trigger/sear spring

The other three are just harware. 2 screws and a square head "bolt" that holds the hammer/mainspring to the stock.

Colonial Boy · Wednesday at 4:46 AM

Thanks very much, Dusty, appreciate that.
Very clear how it’s made, I feel a need coming on . . .

Sam squanch · Wednesday at 5:14 AM

I take it you want to have your fingers on the OUTSIDE of the mainspring/ hammer when you shoot it?

Dusty_Traveler · Wednesday at 5:25 AM

Sam squanch said:
I take it you want to have your fingers on the OUTSIDE of the mainspring/ hammer when you shoot it?

Yes indeed. It would not be pleasant otherwise. You'd be yelping out in the woods like Fred Flintstone.

Relic shooter · Wednesday at 1:51 PM

NIPPLE OPTION
Consider buying a new nipple with musket threads that accepts a rifle size cap..
Treso makes a variety of nipples with oversized threads & Track of the Wolf as well, I'll check my inventory.
Chuck

Dusty_Traveler · Wednesday at 6:23 PM

Relic shooter said:
NIPPLE OPTION
Consider buying a new nipple with musket threads that accepts a rifle size cap..
Treso makes a variety of nipples with oversized threads & Track of the Wolf as well, I'll check my inventory.
Chuck

Thanks Chuck, but that gun is gone now.

I used an adjustable 1/4-28 die squeezed down just a hair in the vice. Ran the nipple through it and that brought it down to the correct size.

Relic shooter · Wednesday at 7:15 PM

Dusty_Traveler said:
Thanks Chuck, but that gun is gone now.

I used an adjustable 1/4-28 die squeezed down just a hair in the vice. Ran the nipple through it and that brought it down to the correct size.

William Briggs underhammer smoothbore

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