Guns International #: 102680558
Seller's Inventory #: 240162

Category - Antique Shotguns - Cartridge - Antique Shotguns - 1500-1850

Category
Antique Shotguns - Cartridge
Antique Shotguns - 1500-1850

New York J.M. CASWELL Antique SxS AMERICAN Rifle & 20g. Shotgun Combo

Description:
 New York J.M. CASWELL Antique SxS AMERICAN Rifle & 20g. Shotgun Combo

GAME SCENE ENGRAVED with BACK ACTION Lock

Here we present an antique J.M. Caswell Side x Side Back Action Rifle & Shotgun Combination Hammer Cape Gun, manufactured circa the 1840s-50s in Lansingburgh, New York.  “The New York State Firearms Trade” by H.J. Swinney/Tom Rowe, has 22 pages devoted to John M. Caswell. It states that the most important gunsmith shop in Upstate New York, during the 1820s & 1830s, was that of John M. Caswell, in Lansingburgh. It steadily employed 20 to 25 men, and produced in 1833, “from twenty-five to thirty rifles…and sometimes thirty six” per week. Caswell was previously in Albany, 1814-1916, and probably in Troy, around 1819. John M. Caswell was born in Connecticut in 1777, the son of Thomas Caswell, also a gunsmith. Caswell died on September 4, 1857.

These were typically high-end hunting weapons that featured a side by side configuration with one barrel rifled and the other smooth. The hunter would use the rifled barrel to fire long range, precise shots against large game and the smooth side could be loaded with a large ball or slug for a quick follow up shot, especially on large and dangerous game. Or the smooth bore could be loaded with shot to make it feasible to hunt fowl at the same time without carrying multiple guns. The gun has two triggers to allow either barrel as needed.

This example has the rifled barrel on the right, with the smoothbore shotgun on the left. These were supremely handy firearms that could also be used to defend the homestead or put game on the table.

The overall condition is good. Dark patina throughout. Beautifully engraved and prolific use of German silver hardware. Both actions are strong. Both bores are patinated with the rifle barrel being still rifled and the .58 bore being smooth. There is a repair all the way around the lock work that is solid.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrels are 26 inches.

Caliber: .42 Rifled Percussion beside .58 Smoothbore Percussion Shotgun

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail!

Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$1600

#240162

SOLD

Antique: Yes