I am trying to find some info about a double barrel percussion muzzleloading shotgun and I need some help! I'll tell you what I know, the finish and most of the rust has been remove, It has demascus barrels, on the rib it has what looks like enscribed "JOHN SAMPSON 21 NORTH JOHN STREET LIVERPOOL", underneeth the action are british (LONDON) proof marks, (a crown with a GP and another with a crown and a V underneeth) there are small proofs on the backside of the locks, (encircled crown with a B underneeth and another with a crown and what looks like a "IA" or a "JA" underneeth, a number "2 60", a small "J.SK" and what could be a "16" on the underside of the barrels. Stamped on the trigger are the initials "HG". There isn't any engraving on the locks or barrels eccept for a very tiny chain looking pattern around the breaches where they mount to the barrels. the butplate and the trigger guard are somewhat crude, nothing fancy, the tennon pin mounts thru the stock and lacks an escutcheon.

 

I believe the gun was assembled by a local blacksmith or gunsmith, I didn't mic the barrels (partially due to the thinness of the barrels and how rough the inside of the barrels are) but I think it is a 16ga. I believe the gun was made for John Sampson and possibly sometime in his or his families life, they may have immigrated to the US.

Google is your friend. John Sampson was a British gunmaker of the 19th century.

WOW! Thank You! What did you enter to find that out? I have been entering everything I could think of!

I think I found the same info you did. A website selling a Sampson Pinfire. I did another extensive search under that crireria and came up empty ...Again! That more info is greatly appreciated!

Reserach the proof marks and you'll be able to tell about when then gun was made.

Try these forums. Lots of knowledgeable folks there. Pics will help them.

 

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=1&page=1

 

or the Shooting Sportsman forum

 

or ShotgunWorld.com/bbs

 

or 16ga.com

Thanks for all the help! I checked the proofs in the Blue Book of gun values, they started using those proofs in the 1600's. Being it is percussion I know they didn't start makeing them unil about 1830's. I found out that John Sampson made guns between 1836 and 1860 in Liverpool. I will check out those forums and I will post any more findings. I'll try to post some pics tommorow.