Rifle/Shotgun Muzzelloader? What is this?
I cam accross this weird gun. It appears to be a shotgun/rifle muzzle loader. Anyone know what this is and what it may be worth? Has an octogon barrel that is rifled and a smooth round barrel. Gun is marked RW Booth Cincinatti.
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Better pic's would help. Is the trigger on the rifle a set? Looks like Wentworth rifling. 0 -
This configuration is some times referred to as a CAPE gun. This gave the user. "most times Hunter" the choice of shotgun on winged game or small game like rabbits. Rifle on large game. This was during a time people used firearms as a tool to put food on the table. It has what is called BACK ACTION locks that use percussion Caps rather then Flint to set off the black powder charge. Looks like someone used metal polish[V] to try to clean This had a very negative effect on you guns value.age most likely 1830-1880. editTrying to clean any older firearm is the same as trying to refinish ANTIQUE furniture . IMPROPER method will destroy most of its value. Ballistol on wood nothing stronger Kroil and copper POT SCRUBBER on any metal surface. Never wire brush sand paper or Abrasive liquid or paste. That will dry and leave WHITE dried powder.[:(] 0 -
R. W. Booth & Co. is listed in Cincinnati directories 1861-1879 as importers and jobbers of hardware, cutlery, and guns, with indication that R. W. was Ralph W. Booth residing in New York.
In 1870 census Ralph W.Booth born 1818 Connecticut is listed in New York City as a wholesale hardware dealer, but in 1880 as a produce and fruit merchant.
A google search find several other percussion guns marked R. W. Booth Cincinnati, and also antique wood planes.0 -
Look under the barrels near the breech for proof marks. I suspect Belgian origin.
The rifle barrel does look like Whitworth style rifling except it has seven flats instead of six.0 -
Doesn't have the appearance of being a expensive firearm, when first purchased. The only thing that would enhance it current collectors value, is its side by side rifle/shotgun configuration. Most of the firearms of this type and age currently found are double barrel percussion shotguns. Hard to price because of this. 0 -
Combination rifle / shotgun percussion muzzle loaders were made about 1840 to 1880 by many makers. While not as common as single barrel rifles and double barrel shotguns thay are certainly not rare. This appears to be a well made, but very plain piece in reasonably good condition. It has standard seven groove rifling (common for the day) in the rifle barrel. The common rifle caliber was .36 to .40; shotgun 14, 16 or 12 gauge. 0 -
I checked for proofs but cant see any due to rust/corrosion, or maybe they just aren't there. The wood appears to be in good shape, no cracks or major chips. The metal on the other hand seems to have enough crude come off when I wipe it with WD that I suspect there is no real reason to continue to try and clean it. 0 -
This piece as others have opined is what some refer to as a Cape Gun. I'd bet that the shotgun side is 16 Ga. which is most commonly found on European arms.
The smooth tube is of Damascus-type construction. Since no tubes of this type were made in the US other than possibly with the exception of perhaps a small number by a gunsmith here and there, I can safely assume that there are proofs. Most probably Belgian, though possibly Birmingham.
Age? Probably in the 1860-1870 era. Possibly a couple of years before the Civil War, but very close to that time. Otherwise the gun would by law be stamped with the country of origin. That is unless the gun was imported as components in unfinished condition. (Very unlikely for this piece.)
Stock is European Walnut. On this I'd bet. Style is consistent with what I and others have shared. Cape Guns never really gained popularity on this side of the pond as both game and hunting styles are so different between the continents.
Don't misunderstand... There were American makers of this type of firearm. One was located not twenty miles from me in Waverly, NY and then Athens, PA. Smooth tubes were probably imported in the white and finished here. The style, though, sets NY guns apart from yours.
In any case you have an example of a firearm that was reaching the end of the road for all practical purposes here in North America. Too much competition from makers such as Remington and Winchester with repeating rifles of high quality at good prices.
Value today? About on par with any imported utility shotgun of the late percussion era. I've seen them go for as little as $150, but usually more in the $250 range and perhaps slightly more depending upon quality and the eagerness of a buyer.0
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