4 bore shotgun

[WR1894]

I picked this up a week ago and have some observation and questions
First off to see a 4 bore of any kind is unique and then the chance to buy one doesn't happen often
The gun is of good quality and in my mind good shape and barrel is London proofed

Bore is 1.040 inches and then it has a swagged choke to .980 and is 34 7/16 long and weights 11 pounds







So from looking into this, name on lock is M Cadle Stockton on the tees which is a coastal area in England, inside the lock it is marked Issac Hollis who is is a gun maker as no research shows Cadle as a gun maker so i am thinking Hollis made the gun
I was told the barrel was cut but i am not sure now that i have handled the gun as it balances excellent, and the other question i have is would in the late percussion era swagged a choke

What do you think?

John

 

[gunsaholic]

How long is the barrel and can you show a photo of the muzzle?

 

[B_noser]

Distance between upper and middle ramrod pipes appears to be considerably less than the distance between the middle and entry pipes. That is often an indication the barrel has been shortened and the upper pipe set back. Nice gun, by the way.

 

[WR1894]

Hard to get this picture to show but it is swagged

I do agree with you about the ferrules and will check against some other percussion guns i have
if the barrel was shorten it was done a long time ago and by someone that new what they were doing as it handles so well

 

[Londonshooter]

John, sorry I have no insights to add but if you're looking for a sucker to shoot it...well, let's get together. I have a dental plan.
jb

 

[Potashminer]

I know nothing about these old "thumpers". How did you determine that it is/was a shotgun versus a smooth bore "rifle"?

 

[WR1894]

Well London shooter it has to be shot so we may have to get together and do that

On the smooth bore rifle i thought of that but it is choked and from what i have read even the smooth bore rifle would have rough sights on it, also the barrel is to long if it was a used as a rifle i think
I have a 8 bore muzzle loading rifle and the barrel is i believe 28 inches but i would need to verify that as compared to the Hawken in the picture

 

[mooncoon]

On the smooth bore rifle i thought of that but it is choked and from what i have read even the smooth bore rifle would have rough sights on it, also the barrel is to long if it was a used as a rifle i think
I have a 8 bore muzzle loading rifle and the barrel is i believe 28 inches but i would need to verify that as compared to the Hawken in the picture

A smooth rifle would have a noticeably thick barrel and a rear sight. Also re chokes; choke boring was developed in the early 1870s and I am guessing that few muzzle loading fowlers would have been built around that time. Re recoil; I have a 5 guage smooth rifle that weighs 14 lbs and loaded with 230 grains of 1 F powder and a roughly 3 ounce round ball, has a noticeable recoil although you can get used to it. I suspect your gun at 11 lbs might recoil a lot more

cheers mooncoon