Wilkinson Flintlock Shotgun

[DickS]

Here are photos of a 16ga. shotgun made by James Wilkinson & Son Gunmakers to His Majesty. (George III). I managed to obtain a copy of the page from the Wilkinson ledger; the gun was entered in the book on November 7, 1822. It has a sophisticated waterproof lock, and while it has seen use, it is in fine condition. The top jaw and top jaw screw are replacements. The bore is shiney, near perfect. I have not fired it.

 

[wattlebuster]

Thats a fine lookin flinter for sure :hatsoff:

 

[Robby]

Sweet!!
Robby

 

[BillinOregon]

When will you fire it? What a pleasure it would be to kill a brace of pheasants with that lovely instrument!

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Simply gorgeous. I collect original BP percussion shotguns and rifles, never got a flinter.

The oldest one I own is a Joseph Lang 18 bore double rifle (circa 1835).

Your 1822 piece is in remarkable condition. I hope you'll have fun firing it. Hunting with it would be an outstanding experience.

Of course you have the option to keep it as a "safe queen" if you don't want to risk marring it in the field.

It's up to you, after all.

 

[Dave K]

What a wonderful gun. You will enjoy it what ever you do or don't do with it.

 

[DickS]

I have snapped the lock, and it does spark!
It has certainly been used over the years, but obviously well cared for. I'd hoped to be able to trace it, but the ledger does not record the original purchaser. The gentleman who sold it had inherited it from his grandfather who died in Perth, Scotland in 1962. But it wasn't an old family gun. The grandfather liked guns, and had acquired it. The silver thumbpiece has a wolf's head, probably relating to a family name or monogram. Not a coat of arms.
It handles very well. Light and responsive as one would expect from a first class British sporting gun. The workmanship is outstanding. The inside of the lock is like a fine watch.
I really should take it out after grouse. It was meant to be used, and is in perfect working order even if it is close to 190 years old.

 

[jsn]

Very nice find!

 

[RHill]

Very nice english piece, nothing but top of the line there when that was made! I really like the lock plate with the step at the rear.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Interesting lines on that gun. And very beautiful. Enjoy.

 

[DickS]

When I first acquired the gun, the top jaw screw was a really horrible replacement, which sort of fit the threads in the cock, in a very wobbly manner. The top jaw is correctly styled, but has no engraving, so it is obviously a replacement. I suspect someone snapped the lock without a flint or hardwood wedge, chipping the tip of the frizzen, breaking the top jaw screw, the top jaw being subsequently lost.

I whittled out a tapered square bit of hardwood, and twisted it into the cock. Measured the threads. Put a piece of round stock in the lathe, and proceeded to cut the threads, trying the piece in the cock every few thousandths. When I had a really nice fit, I shaped the rest of the screw. I'd studied photos to get an idea of the appropriate shape. The little tit at the end of the thread is typical. After polishing and parting off, I case hardened the screw. Colour is a bit off, but I think in time it will blend in.

 

[Dave K]

Just a polite rub on a very nice gun. As some would say, OMG, you removed the originality and if those old buggered parts could talk! I would do exactly as you did and enjoy this fine gun as it's maker intended. There is certainly allot to be said about the feel of carrying an old serviceable gun in the field. There is a feeling about history and the years of hunters long gone, that seems to come out of the gun and course through the mind of the person hunting with it. Very lovely gun.

 

[DickS]

The top jaw screw was not an old buggered part. It was a very recent improvisation with die cut threads. Only thing good was that the thread fit was so loose that the cock was not damaged.
If you look very carefully at the photos, you can see the silver overlay just in front of the fizzen and on the left of the breech which protects the wood. I'd never seen this before, and then came across mention of this being used on premium British guns in The Double Gun Journal.
After James Wilkinson died, his son relocated and enlarged the business, which eventually became Wilkinson Sword.
On the page from the ledger, there were 15 guns entered for October/November 1822. Of these, two thirds were percussion. I was surprised at this. Some percussion doubles, none in flint, and then flint and percussion singles.

 

[texcl]

What a great gun, late single flint locks are my favorite class of gun. Like I said, just fantastic, thanks for sharing.

 

[rickystl]

Now that's a handsome firearm!! Great find. Enjoy. :thumbsup:

 

[Ian]

A beautiful gunsir, I have a Wilkinson double rifle made for the 4th Earl of Ashburnham in 1841 and in as nice condition, it took a large Canadian moose a few yrs ago, it felt so good and I'm sure the old Earl would approve. cheers Ian.

 

[Supercracker]

Do you have any close ups of how the ramrod tubes were joined to the rib?

 

[DickS]

Just had a quick look. The pipes are not 360 degree tubes. The portion against the rib is cut away so the pipe fits edge to edge, so to speak. The concave lower surface of the rib is continuous through the pipe. There is no hint of solder, etc, but I would assume that they are soldered in place. Perhaps hard soldered before the rib was installed on the barrel. I cannot tell. The installation is very smooth, seamless, as would be expected given the level of workmanship on the gun. The tailpipe is retained internally, there is no cross pin. Ramrod is the original rosewood.

 

[Supercracker]

Thanks. I had actually suspected that that's how they were done and just wanted to verify.

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Took another look at your gun. It just completely knocks me out! SO BEAUTIFUL!

Not to be nosy, but did you recently take it out hunting in Kansas?