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I thought I would better post something having been absent for a while so I chose these two. The upper gun is a double 14 bore muzzle loader by John Dickson of Edinburgh. The serial number puts it as being made in 1853. Dickson's are still in business and making guns but have relocated from Edinburgh to premises in Dunkeld in Scotland. I have visited these premises on a couple of occasions and always received a warm welcome even though I couldn't afford to order a new gun. Dickson's were prolific Makers of guns of all types and further information about the company can be found in an excellent book by Donald Dallas. Another of his books called 'Charles Gordon. Magnificent Madness' details someone who must have been Dickson's star customer who ordered over 150 Dickson guns; and a good many from other Makers. Having inherited a fortune he spent no time in spending it. He never shot any on his guns and all were cased with full accessories. He ordered muzzle loaders, tube locks and pin-fires long after they were obsolete. Eventually he was declared insane and his collection sold off for prices that were as of next to nothing. Dickson's even opened their shop for him on Christmas day to be able to make new commissions. I have just had my gun back from having the barrels re-browned in Birmingham. Not a top end Dickson but a good sound shooter none the less.
The lower gun is by James Mortimer of Bridge Street, Edinburgh which I can only date from between 1834 and 1854. Dickson's absorbed the Mortimer name along with many other old Scottish Gunmakers. I intend to contact Dickson's to see if I can obtain any more information on the Mortimer gun. Oddly it has barrels that are only 26 1/2 inches long and are original. It is also a double 14 bore and of very sound construction.
"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)
I don't know for sure Freezer but I would suspect so. Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures. Anyone interested in older guns would do well to try to get a copy of Donald Dallas's book on Charles Gordon. Very interesting with a wealth of pictures of Gordon's guns plus a detailed list of prices paid at the auction which took place in 1908. How about a cased pair of Joseph Harkom percussion pistols for 10 shillings! A pair of cased double barrel pistol by Purdey of London; they made a bit more at 21 shillings! If that's not to your liking; how about a double barrel 9 bore percussion shotgun by John Dickson for 18 shillings. Bear in mind these were all mint, unfired and cased' Oh! For a time machine!!
