May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/9/2024
Per "Charles Gordon: Magnificent Madness" by Donald Dallas, this shotgun was ordered from John Dickson and Sons on August 31st, 1893, as an 11 bore double muzzleloading shotgun with back action. Charles Gordon is famous for his patronage of John Dickson & Sons at the turn of the century, purchasing over 200 guns between 1875 and 1904, with some speculation that he was solely responsible for keeping John Dickson & Sons afloat. The shotgun remains in as ordered configuration with chain Damascus barrels with diminutive bead front sight with express rear sight on a smooth concave tapering rib, with "JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCESS STREET EDINBURGH" engraved at rear. Case colored hooked breeches with bright nipples. Barrel tubes with typical British proofs, including JD&S proof, and serial number. Ramrod retained by three ferrules, one slotted for barrel key, feeding into a reinforced mouth. Barrel key retained by an escutcheon at forearm. Back action percussion locks engraved with scrollwork and vignette of snipe on the left, and quail on the right, signed "JOHN DICKSON & SONS" at rear. Case colored fishform hammers with scroll en suite. Double triggers protected by a wide bottom trigger guard with a pair of points, and a pineapple finial. Vacant silver oval at toe line, smooth high polish English butt with a long spearpoint finial heel, depicting one of the dog chasing after a pair of quail in brush. Housed in the classic coral colored pigskin lined case with brass joint reinforcement and John Dickson trade label in lid, with accessories comprising pair turnscrews (one a replacement), pair of striker pots (one with milled hole through base), mainspring vise, bullet mold with sprue cutter, patch cutter, nipple wrench, powder flask, fouling scraper, jag, F. Joyce percussion cap tin, and 2 part cleaning rod. Compartment which normally houses a box with sliding lid instead has a box of Eley Bros cardboard wads. CONDITION: Barrels with the vast majority of the reapplied browning, softening legends somewhat, with some handling marks throughout, and a spot of oxidation on underside of right breech which was cleaned at junction. Locks with the large majority of their case colors with some silvering and spotted mossing to rear. Stocks are good with surface-level craquelure throughout, some heavy chipping about the escutcheon, and some flaking of finish at toe. Trigger guard considerably silvered where hand makes contact, with oxidation at barrel key, right trigger, trigger guard, "pistol grip", and both toe and heel of buttplate. Mechanically fine, bores are very good. Case and accessories very good with some age related handling marks and staining appropriate for age. Slip very good with typical wear for age including rubs at edges and joints.
Accessories
Case, slipcover
Manufacturer
John Dickson & Son