Victorian England in your hands: A William Powell & Son bar-in-wood double……

12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun

I like the old and impractical: bamboo fly rods…wooden decoys…books…and, of course, double-barrel shotguns — especially hammer guns with damascus barrels.

From about 1866-1875, centerfire hammer guns were the latest-and-greatest thing in the shooting world. Once they were introduced, hunters from the moors of Scotland to the Susquehanna flats tossed aside their slow-to-load percussion guns for the newest thing in double barrels.
William Powell & Son  was one of the first British gunmakers to produce breachloading centerfire shotguns. Their side-by-sides were built on Powell’s “No. 1 patent” of 1864 and featured a snap-action, lift-up toplever design. The shotgun you see here is one of those doubles.
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
According to Steve Helsey at PowellsPatent.com, this one was ordered in 1869 by a Captain Cave.  At that time, Powell had five hammer gun grades – Superior, Very Best, Best, Plain and Second. This shotgun is a “best”, or middle-grade gun.

12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
12g William Powell & Son, Double Barrel, Bar-in-Wood, Double Barrel Shotgun
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