What does the brain trust say?…

[Mousegunguy]

Howdy,
I’m hoping for some info on this old English shotgun.
The barres are 30 inches to the cones, 46 inches total.
Has ‘Clarke’ on both lock plates. ‘London’ on the rib.
The proof marks on the bottom of the barrel lead me to believe the barrel was proofed 1813-1855 at Birmingham proof house.
It looks to be about a 12-10 gauge
Any info you may have would be appreciated
Thanks in advance

 

[Tom A Hawk]

No help here but the workmanship is excellent. I wish my inletting was as fine. Is that a bit of brazing on the right hand hammer?

 

[TFoley]

The back action lock and percussion action says 1840 onwards to me. Full-length photos would be good, too. It's a bit like looking at photos of a vintage car that just show a steering wheel. Also, I accept that as a furriner my take on things might differ from yours, but I like to see guns the right way up, it's easier on my poor old neck, and stops me turning my monitor upside down to examine the images. It's a very nice piece, BTW. Well, what we can see of it, that is.

 

[Rancocas]

I agree with TFoley on the age - 1840 and up. I also didn't like standing on my head to read Clark on the lock plate. Don't know Clark.
As for the brazing on the hammer - my dad was a plumber. I have his old shotgun and he repaired both hammers with brazing just like that.

 

[Mousegunguy]

Apologies for the pictures being upside down. I’d fix it if I knew how.
The hammers definitely been brazed but they also don’t match as a pair maybe a repaired replacement?
the name on the lock plates is ‘Clarke’… with an ‘E’ if that make a difference

It’s even right side up!

 

[Mousegunguy]

The back action lock and percussion action says 1840 onwards to me. Full-length photos would be good, too. It's a bit like looking at photos of a vintage car that just show a steering wheel. Also, I accept that as a furriner my take on things might differ from yours, but I like to see guns the right way up, it's easier on my poor old neck, and stops me turning my monitor upside down to examine the images. It's a very nice piece, BTW. Well, what we can see of it, that is.

View attachment 275866
View attachment 275867

Thanks for fixing’ the pictures!
Here’s you full picture..

 

[pilot]

The hammers get brittle with age. Mine has one hammer spur broken off that needs welded back on. It shows a lot of grain in the fracture.

 

[TFoley]

Nice-looking gun there...............typical of the 1840's - 1860's. VERY hard to date early Birmingham proofs, though.