{"product_id":"original-19th-century-u-s-double-barreled-cape-percussion-combination-gun-made-in-lansingburgh-ny-circa-1850","title":"Original 19th Century U.S. Double Barreled Cape Percussion Combination Gun Made in Lansingburgh, 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, to be used with the rifled barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis American made example fits the pattern very well, and like the German\/Austrian examples has a 30 bore smoothbore fowling barrel on the left, and a 0.43\" 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\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e???????AKER LANSINGBURGH N.Y. E. HUTCHINGS \u0026amp; Co AGENTS BALTIMORE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLansingburgh is an area on the Hudson river north of Albany, which had several notable gunmakers in operation during the mid 19th century. Based on the style and presence of the word \"maker\" in the marking, we believe this to be the work of John M. Caswell (1777-1857), a known maker from that area. Unfortunately the area further towards the breech is too worn to make any kind of definitive attribution. E. Hutchings \u0026amp; Co. is a known distributor and outfitter in Baltimore, who marked the gun for retail sale. We checked under the barrel assembly, and there were just a few unidentified markings under the barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gun is definitely an upmarket example, and has beautiful engraved nickel silver mountings, including a fantastic spring loaded patch box, which is opened by pressing a button on the bottom of the butt stock. The box cover has some lovely game fowl engraving, and there is additional game fowl on the ornate \"pistol grip\" style trigger guard. The rest of the fittings have lovely acanthus leaf motifs, and there is a \"hunter's star\" on the cheek piece of the left side of the but stock. The top of the barrel is fitted with a simple ball front sight in the middle for the shotgun side, and the right barrel has a notch rear sight and blade front sight for the rifled side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side lock for the fowler is fully functional, holding at half cock, firing at full, while the right side lock for the rifle is functional, but will fire immediately when set to full cock. It has a \"single set trigger\", which looks to be out of adjustment at present. The cap nipple cones are in very good shape, though definitely look to be replacements, with the left side not quite threading in all the way. 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 is also in great shape, showing a bright finish with clear 8 groove rifling. It does not look to have seen much use during its service life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gun has a lovely walnut half-stock, which shows a great color and grain, with the previously mentioned cheek piece on the left side. 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. The top unscrews to reveal a clearing worm under the brass ramming end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely example of a Victorian Era hunting gun, made in the United States and most likely retailed to a Well Off resident of the Baltimore, MD area. 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: 30 Bore - about 0.537\"\u003cbr\u003eRifle Caliber: 0.43\" with 8 groove rifling\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Lead Shot\/ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 32 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 48 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":44839492059205,"sku":"ONJR26FERA031","price":2195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26FERA031.jpg?v=1775070359","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-19th-century-u-s-double-barreled-cape-percussion-combination-gun-made-in-lansingburgh-ny-circa-1850","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}