Please enlighten me on this beasty - English 12bore smooth rifle

[LawrenceA]

Described as a very heavy, about 7 kgs, unmarked longarm. A genuine antique.
The sighted, octagonal to round, smoothbore Damascus, .71 calibre barrel, measures 39 inches. The whole arm measures 55 inches. The massive breech, with an appropriate sized bolster, has a width of just over 1 ¾ inches. The bore is in good condition.

https://steelandshot.com.au/product/massive-breech-percussion-elephant-gun-c1870/
How much do I needs it?

 

[user 48679]

How much do I needs it?

If you can find a set of wheels for it, buy it !

After all, where can you find another like it ?

 

[Semper_Smokey]

"In its day it was probably not recommended for anything smaller than a rhinoceros."

Haha - love this line!

 

[SOLANCO]

A cannon with a shoulder stock!

If you want it and can shoulder it? Buy it!

 

[UndeadPoet]

Holy smokes! Now that’s a rifle (well, actually a smooth rifle).

 

[nhmoose]

No rear sight?

 

[ppg1949]

I really like the semi-pistol grip with finger grooves. I’ve read about F.C.Selous using such weapons. Aside from courage needed to hunt elephants up close and personal, you had to have courage to pull the trigger on a rifle where the load was measured in grams not grains. Kudos to those brave men of long ago.

 

[flconch53]

I think it is no more than a nice 12 GA shotgun single barrel. They are 72 caliber. An elephant gun of that time would be about a 4 bore.

 

[user 33882]

Its a very interesting looking gun. Sure looks like a modern restock of refinished antique components. Good quality work. It's not an elephant gun or a piece that would have massive recoil. It's a 12 gauge shotgun.

 

[Roundball2319]

Nice smooth bore. From the description it sounds like a 12 gauge shotgun designed for some heavy powder charges.

 

[LawrenceA]

Yeah I know it is not an elephant gun but it sure ain't a regular fowler.
I am leaning toward maybe for tigers. 72 RB with a heavy charge???
I cannot see why anyone would build a shotgun this way unless there was some law that said nothing over 12g and they wanted 2oz or larger loads.

 

[flconch53]

Waterfowl with a heavy load

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Waterfowl with a heavy load

WINNER!

Yes that's NOT a gun for dangerous game. IF it was plain wood without carving I'd say "market hunter", but the wood is too nice for a working man's gun.
It's a better bet the gun is for use where punt-guns were outlawed, or the hunter was in a blind or wading in high reeds (needed quick elevation).

LD

 

[Sparkitoff]

Nothing about that says "English" to me. From the many characteristics of the stock to the details of the hammer, nothing is consistent with an English longarm. Doesn't mean it's not interesting though.

 

[LawrenceA]

Thank you all.
That makes a lot of sense.
Looks like it could have been a bank gun depending on what that thing missing (maybe a trunnion or swivel) from the forend is.
Either way a bit rich for a single barrel shotty.