Old 16 bore

[comanche 2,799]

Being laid up after a minor operation I've finally got round to tackling an old 16 bore I was given a couple of years ago. What I thought was going to be a couple of hours relaying the top rib and refixing the fore end catch turned into something a bit more in depth once I realised that under the surface rust the gun seems to be in quite good nick.  I don't think from looking at the hammer faces it has been used much considering it is probably 100 years old and apart from  light pitting near the muzzle the barrels are surprisingly clean. The locks only needed a brush-up and lubing but what intrigues me is the mark stamped inside each side-plate.

         The gun is nothing special; just something turned out by, or at least sold via, a Cumbrian iron works. While it is possible they made the barrels I suspect the actions and locks were bought-in and the stamped mark indicates a commercial supplier of gun locks. Unfortunatly I can't read the marks with any clarity but it would be interesting to hear from anyone with more knowledge.

Edited February 19, 2019 by comanche