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A couple of week's ago I posted a thread on a Rosson of Derby shotgun as I collect guns by Makers local to me and mentioned my quest for an earlier example when Charles Rosson was in partnership with Robert Dobson. Today I managed to obtain an example for my collection. A double 16 bore hammer gun with 30 inch Damascus barrels marked Dobson & Rosson. Charles Rosson came from Birmingham and entered into partnership with Robert Dobson around 1878 but died in 1886 and the business was purchased by Rosson from his widow. From various indications on the gun I can date it from between 1883 and 1886. The gun is proofed originally for black powder but has undergone subsequent black powder re-proof following some renovation work. I know the person who carried out the work and the gun has remained unused for the last 30 years.
The gun was bought from a private Dealer who knows what I collect and a trip to his place always ends up costing me something although he is a very fair person to deal with.
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain)
It has had some work done on it in relation to a re-brown of the barrels and the stock refurbished and re-chequered. The action has been [polished as it would most likely have been case colour hardened. Just pleased to find one in decent condition. I will take it to the next black powder club shoot in three weeks time and see how it shoots. It seems to fit and balance well. I have no problem in loading 16 bore black powder ammunition. I have another 16 bore Derby gun by John Fry that is also black powder proof only.
