Original Item: One of a kind. This is a particularly interesting American made percussion Cape combination gun by noted Decatur, Illinois gunsmith Hieronymus Mueller, combining a 16 bore smoothbore barrel with a .39" rifled barrel in a traditional side by side configuration. The gun has the wonderfully honest appearance of a working mid 19th century sporting arm, with a richly colored walnut half stock, deeply aged iron furniture, brass fitted ramrod, single set front trigger, and very fine bores. Most importantly, the barrel rib is clearly signed by Mueller at Decatur, making this an unusual surviving firearm from the earliest period of a business that would eventually develop into the long established Mueller manufacturing concern.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

A combination gun pairs a rifled barrel with a smoothbore barrel, giving a hunter the ability to use the same firearm for very different types of game. During the percussion era, these arms were often built with their barrels side by side. This particular arrangement later became widely known as a "Cape Gun," a term historically associated with combination guns used in southern Africa, where hunters could encounter game requiring either shot or a single rifled projectile. Period use of the Cape Gun name is documented in the Cape region by the mid 19th century.

This American made example follows the classic side by side combination gun layout closely. The left barrel is a 16 bore smoothbore, while the right barrel is rifled and measures approximately 0.39" at the muzzle. Externally the two barrels are very close in diameter, giving the gun a balanced and purposeful appearance. The right rifled barrel is fired by the front trigger, which is a single set trigger engaged by pushing it forward.

The barrel assembly measures 28 3/4", and the gun measures 44 1/4" overall.

The center rib on top of the barrels is clearly marked with the maker's name and location:

H. MUELLER          
MAKER
          DECATUR, ILLS.

Hieronymus Mueller established his first gun shop in Decatur, Illinois on September 7, 1857. His original business was explicitly identified as the "H. MUELLER, GUN SHOP," and surviving company history records that Mueller both made and repaired firearms there. He briefly closed the business in 1858 to travel west during the Colorado gold rush, then returned to Decatur and reopened his shop. By 1859 his expanding business had moved again, concentrating on gunsmithing, sporting goods, and related mechanical work.

Mueller's career eventually extended far beyond firearms. His mechanical and manufacturing interests expanded into waterworks, plumbing, gas, and industrial products, and by the later 19th century the enterprise had developed into the company that would become Mueller Co. His early firearms are therefore especially interesting as products from the beginning of a much larger American manufacturing story.

We examined the undersides of the barrels and did not find English or Belgian proof marks that would identify the tubes as imported from either of those major European barrel producing centers. The markings that are present include:

5278

This number appears on the breech plug and is repeated faintly on the underside of the right barrel. We have not identified its exact significance and do not know whether it represents a production, assembly, or other shop number.

The gun is fitted almost entirely with iron furniture, with the exception of the barrel wedge escutcheons. There is no engraving or elaborate decorative work, giving it the straightforward appearance of a practical working sporting gun intended for serious hunting rather than presentation or display. The top rib carries a fixed notch rear sight and a nickel bladed front sight appropriate for use with the rifled barrel.

Both percussion locks remain functional to varying degrees, although there are important mechanical issues to note. The left lock will hold at half cock, but if the trigger is pulled back hard it will release from the half cock position. The right lock also holds at half cock. Its front single set trigger can be engaged by pushing the trigger forward, and the mechanism can be heard clicking and releasing when activated, but the set function will not actually release the hammer. The hammer only falls when the trigger is pulled farther to the rear.

The percussion nipples are in very good condition overall and show no significant oxidation or powder fouling. There is some deformation at their ends from repeated hammer strikes.

The bores are particularly impressive for a working percussion combination gun of this age. The 16 bore smoothbore barrel shows some oxidation toward the muzzle, but farther down the bore the surface becomes smooth and satin bright, with little evidence of significant fouling or oxidation.

The .39" rifled barrel is in excellent condition, with a bright interior and crisp, well defined lands and grooves. There is only a small amount of past oxidation visible near the muzzle. The generally fine condition of both bores suggests that, whatever use the gun experienced, its barrels escaped the severe black powder corrosion so often encountered in percussion sporting arms.

The exterior metalwork has developed a very attractive aged oxidized patina. Scattered areas of peppering are visible, but there are no major rust blooms or extensive areas of deep pitting noted. The overall surface has the honest, matured character expected on an American sporting gun that has survived for well over a century.

The walnut half stock is another particularly attractive feature. It has developed a rich color and displays pleasing natural grain, together with the dents, handling marks, and other evidence expected from a working hunting arm of the period.

Ramrod pipes are fitted beneath the barrel assembly, and a particularly nice brass fitted ramrod remains present. It appears consistent with the gun in age and construction and may well be original, although we cannot establish this with certainty. The forward end is enlarged so that it can be used with both barrels. At the opposite end is a brass cap covering a clearing worm, providing a useful period accessory for maintaining or clearing the barrels in the field.

With its clearly signed H. MUELLER / MAKER / DECATUR, ILLS. barrel rib, unusual American made Cape Gun configuration, 16 bore smoothbore and .39" rifled barrels, single set trigger, attractive walnut half stock, original style iron furniture, brass fitted ramrod, and remarkably fine surviving bores, this is a very appealing piece of early American sporting arms history. The association with Hieronymus Mueller gives it additional significance beyond that of a typical percussion hunting gun, making it especially desirable for a collection of American gunsmith made firearms, Illinois arms, percussion sporting guns, or unusual 19th century combination weapons.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1850
Maker: Hieronymus Mueller of Decator, Ill.
Shotgun Caliber: 16 Bore - about 0.66"
Rifle Caliber: 0.38" with 6 groove rifling
Cartridge Type: Lead Shot/ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 28 3/4 Inches
Overall Length: 44 1/4 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Locks
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

NOTE: 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.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.