Royland Southgate Percussion Pistol markings

[SlimPick2]

Anyone know where I can find information on the markings on a Royland Southgate PERCUSSION pistol?
It is marked on the top flat near the breech with
9
2 0

I can't seem to find much on Mr. Southgate other than he made 158 pistols most of which were flintlock.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I have an odd round 38 caliber rifle barrel labeled with a stamped cursive script that identifies it as a Southgate. It certainly isn't anything like a long rifle barrel. The barrel is inlet and pinned to a walnut stock that was inlet for a back action lock. About as opposite as possible from the fancy long rifles he made.

 

[SlimPick2]

It would seem Mr. Southgate was sparse with his markings. It does make for a "cleaner" looking firearm though.

 

[MacRob46]

Southgate was one of the early "modern" black powder gunmakers, along with Hacker Martin. He made a lot of guns but has to be classified as a "gun stocker" because he seems to have mostly used production barrels and locks. His architecture was good, but not spectacular and his guns today do not bring a lot of money when they are sold. However, he was, from what I hear, a fine person with a genuine interest in the sport of black powder shooting and his contribution to it is substantial. As for markings, the only one I have seen in person was clean of markings and the only way I knew it was a Southgate was that the owner bought it directly from him.

 

[bate1183bellsouth.net]

I knew R Southgate from 1964 until his death in 1979. I was privileged to work for him part-time from about 1969 until 1974 when a job change prevented me from being present during his regular shop hours. He serial numbered guns from 1 to 1008. He made his own barrels and most locks. Out of 1008 I know of three Douglas barrels on Southgate guns. Much early production used lock plates, trigger guards and buttplates which he cast. He always signed his work; most with a stamp but on specials or on request he would engrave his signature in script on the top flat.
The serial number was stamped on the top flat of the barrel in front of the tang, usually in a neat row but sometimes the middle number would be advanced. If that is the case in discussion the number would be 290.

 

[MacRob46]

Thanks for the information. I guess I thought I knew more about Southgate that I did although I may have been thinking of Hacker Martin who did buy a lot of his barrels and locks, or so I have been told.