Need help with I.D.

[exhibitjoe]

Hi,
I'm a curator at a small history museum in Wisconsin. I'm working on a new exhibit about the history of hunting in our area and I need help getting some info on a couple guns we have in our collection.

The first one is a double barrel combo gun. It measures 46" overall length with a 30" barrel. The smaller diameter barrel (right side from shooters POV) measures about .5" (12mm) or maybe a touch smaller? It doesn't have obvious rifle grooves but maybe very faint and wide ones? The bigger bore is just under .75" (18mm). One mark in the side of the barrel on the left side.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kansas Jake]

My guess would be a 50 caliber rifle/12 gauge combination piece. The back action locks likely make it 1850ish or later. Are there any proof marks or other marks on the underside of the barrel etc?

 

[OLUT]

I agree with Kansas Jake. Many examples of these combination guns were made and used in New York State, but many were also made in Europe and imported to sell here. The mark on the barrel is indistinct, but SEEMS to be the "PERRON" (symbol that at least the barrels were made and proofed in Belgium). If so, the underside of the barrels should show the "ELG" stamping as well ... cock the hammers, pull out the wedge and remove the barrels for inspection as Jake recommends. Of special interest to me is the rear sights with the two notches. These type of guns are a challenge to regulate both barrels to shoot to the same point of aim; the owner resolved this by filing two sets of notches in the rear sight leaves, indicating that this gun was the go-to gun for a smart hunter.

 

[exhibitjoe]

Thanks! No other marks that I can see (without taking it apart).

 

[exhibitjoe]

Thanks You! Great info and I appreciate the thoughts on the sights since we are presenting in own our display as a hunting gun.

 

[44Bro]

Since no one else has given the usual warning,,,,,,Run the ramrod down the barrels. It might still be loaded.

 

[exhibitjoe]

Since no one else has given the usual warning,,,,,,Run the ramrod down the barrels. It might still be loaded.

Good point! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[briantllb]

It is a Cape Rifle one rifle barrel one smoothbore shotgun barrel. Intended mainly for use in the Cape Colony AKA South Africa.