{"product_id":"original-19th-century-u-s-double-barreled-cape-percussion-combination-gun-by-gilbert-bales-of-penn-yan-ny-circa-1850","title":"Original 19th Century U.S. Double Barreled Cape Percussion Combination Gun by Gilbert \u0026 Bales of Penn Yan, NY - Circa 1850","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One of a kind. A combination gun is typically a firearm that usually has one rifled barrel and one smoothbore barrel, that is typically used with shot or some type of shotgun slug. While more modern styles utilizing cartridges were \"over and under\" designs, during the percussion era, most of these were side by side. Having ammunition ready for several different types of game definitely had its advantages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lovely well-used example of a \"Cape Gun\", a side-by-side version of a combination gun that were typically European in origin, however this example was made in the United States. These were at one time popular in Southern Africa, particularly the cape region, where a wide variety of game could be encountered. This is how they acquired their moniker, which continued in use even after they became more wide spread. While the British style of combination gun usually had the rifled barrel on the left side, the German and Austrian cape guns have the rifled barrel on the right side, which is fired by the front trigger. The front trigger is usually a set trigger as well, however this example does not, as far as we can tell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis American made example fits the pattern very well, and like the British examples has a 24 bore shotgun barrel on the left, and a 0.39\" rifled barrel on the right, which are just about the same size externally. The tops of the barrels are marked with the maker name and address:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGILBERT \u0026amp; BALES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePENN YAN N.Y.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a known maker from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, located at the northern end of Keuka Lake's eastern branch. We unfortunately were not able to find much information about the company, which may have just been a retailer that remarked trade guns. We checked the underside of the barrels, and both are marked \u003cstrong\u003eJB\u003c\/strong\u003e, probably the initials of the original maker, and also with sequential serial number \u003cstrong\u003e1381\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e1382\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gun is mostly fit with iron, which does not bear any engraving or other adornment, looking to be a utilitarian gun intended for mid 19th century hunting, which was still very important as a food supply. The nose cap and barrel wedge escutcheons are nickel silver, as is the relatively plain patch box on the right side of the butt stock, which still opens easily. The top of the barrel is fitted with a wedge-adjusted rear sight, and a nickel bladed front sight. Both back-action locks are fully functional, holding at half-cock and firing at full. The cap nipple cones are in very good shape, though definitely look to be replacements that do not thread all the way into the barrels. We checked the bores, and the smoothbore barrel looks to have been thoroughly cleaned recently, possibly even honed on the interior, and is in great shape. The rifled barrel still shows clear rifling, with some light fouling in the grooves, but overall is in very good shape, with the lands still bright. It saw use, but was well cared for and cleaned to make sure it did not oxidize.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gun has a lovely walnut half-stock, which shows a great color and grain. We did notice that it has a repaired crack on the bottom of the fore stock area running from the barrel wedge escutcheons, but it does not look to have gone all the way through the stock. There are pipes for a ramrod under the barrel assembly, and in this case there is a lovely brass-fitted ramrod present, which definitely looks to be original. It is wider at the front end for use with both barrels, and the rear end has a brass cover with a threaded hole on it, and also unscrews to show another threaded hole, though there are no tools included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely example of a Victorian Era hunting gun, made in the United States for possible export to South Africa. Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: circa 1850\u003cbr\u003eShotgun Caliber: 24 Bore - about 0.576\"\u003cbr\u003eRifle Caliber: 0.39\" with 6 groove rifling\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Lead Shot\/ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 30 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 46 1\/2 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Percussion Locks\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loading\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44809557016645,"sku":"ONJR26FERA028","price":1095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26FERA028.jpg?v=1774294059","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-19th-century-u-s-double-barreled-cape-percussion-combination-gun-by-gilbert-bales-of-penn-yan-ny-circa-1850","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}