14 Gauge Muzzle Loader

[Chris Bb]

Yesterday I was given an old gun that has been hanging on a wall for at least the last 40 years. It was filthy and had to be scrubbed to reveal some of its history.

 

It's a muzzle loader which has lost its hammers (see ad in "Wanted" section) and is in generally poor condition, the rib is loose, there's a bit of a bulge in one barrel and a cleaning mop stuck half way down the other! Having cleaned it I found Birmingham proof marks for the period 1855 - 1868, the gun is marked on both barrels "1858" which I take to be its date rather then a serial number. It's also marked on each barrel with the number "14", so I believe this to be the gauge as 12 gauge cleaning brushes are a very tight fit and apparently 14 gauge was quite popular at that time. The barrels look to be Damascus but, again, are in poor condition and I had to scrub rust off them.

 

It's marked as Joseph Medcalf, Enfield Lock; with this being a Birmingham gun I take it that he was the retailer. Interestingly there was a Joseph Medcalf who was licensee of the Swan & Pike public house on the Lee Navigation at Enfield Lock, perhaps he sold more than beer to the bargees, many pubs did. I believe it was last bought in north Essex or Suffolk, not a million miles from Enfield.

 

So, it will never be fired but it's nice to have and I'll attempt to at least make it look original, even if I only glue a pair of hammers on!

 

Any history or suggestions will be gratefully received. If anybody is interested in any pictures let me know & I'll PM them to you.

 

 

Edited for silly typo's.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Chris Bb

[Underdog]

Glad you are polishing the old thing up. If only it could talk!!

14g was popular yes.

Maybe Henry kranks have some old hammers poking around!

 

U.