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LOT 1266
Elaborate Presentation
Cased Exhibition Engraved
and Elaborately Gold Inlaid
Dual Ignition Percussion/
Pinfire Double Barrel
Shotgun from Thomas
of Paris - Serial no. 7827,
16 gauge, 29 1/2 inch solid
rib bbl., gold/brown/blue/
casehardened finish, walnut
stock. This dual ignition
shotgun was manufactured
in 1854 by gunmaker Thomas
of Paris following the famous
Great Exhibition in London
in 1851 and just prior to the
Exposition Universelle in
Paris on 1855. It may have
been created for the second
event. Thomas was also the
gunmaker to the King of
Sweden and Norway. The gun
is currently configured for
use with pinfire ammunition
but is also designed to be
convertible for use with
percussion caps, and the
conversion cartridges
are stored in the stock
compartment. It features
Damascus barrels by Albert
Bernard of Paris (as marked on
the bottom flats) with the year
“1854” and number “7827” on
the underside of the rib.