I used to have a thing for 8 gauges. I wanted badly to find one, like a tick wants to find a deer. I even bought a pile of 8 gauge ammo in anticipation of owning one some day. If I were still interested in 8s, I would be salivating over this one. It looks like a awesome gun, in excellent, original condition. Amoskeag Auction Company has it, and they’re selling it on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
Big guns like this were used to pass shoot ducks, geese, and swans, and in the 19th century they were common along the big flyways up and down the Eastern Seaboard. In the 20th century, they fell out of favor and were eventually outlawed by the Federal Government for use on all migratory species. Today, some states allow them for use on other game species (like turkeys), while other states have completely outlawed their use for hunting.
Lot #185: A Tremendous W & C Scott & Sons 8 Bore Double Hammer Shotgun With Extra 10 Bore Barrels: Serial #29486, 8 bore, 36″ damascus barrels choked about .020 in each with bright excellent bores, and 10 bore, 32 3/8″ damascus barrels choked improved cylinder in each having bright very good bores showing very faint frosting. This gun was originally made as an 8 bore and the 10 gauge barrels along with a new forearm were added by the maker at a later date and serial numbered to the gun. The 8 bore barrels exhibit some pattern turning mostly silver with scattered light oxidation spots and an area of pinprick pitting at the breech to the right side of the rib. The 10 bore barrels exhibit 70% of their original brown color displaying an area of pinprick pitting on the top about ten inches from the breech along with some scratches and dings. Both sets of barrels have the maker’s name and London address engraved on the top rib with matching engraved borders around the breech ends and rib extensions.
The frame, locks, and hammers all display various shades of case color, the locks retaining 80% with the balance of the metal surfaces showing a mix of brown, pewter, and spots of color. All of the metal has border engraving with the top lever indicating the maker’s “Patent”. The figured straight grip stock rates very good displaying a few dings and scratches over the original polished oil finish with some staining evident around the butt pad and the grip is finely checkered in a well executed full wrap-around pattern showing some soiling.
The original splinter forearm is attached via a cross pin and rates similarly to the stock with well defined lightly soiled checkering; it has a nicely carved decorative metal tip. The second splinter forearm accompanying the 10 bore barrels is about an inch shorter and has a later lever release. Its condition is similar with good lightly soiled checkering. An old distorted rubber recoil pad is present providing a length of 14 1/2″ and the gun features double rebounding hammers with extractors and weighs 15 lbs. This shotgun was made in 1878 and the extra barrels and forearm were added a short time later as Scott stopped using that type of forearm release in 1892. It remains in remarkable condition considering its age and use. Est: $6000-$8000
