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LOT 250
Extremely Fine Unique Engraved John Dickson & Son 8
Bore Double Barrel Percussion Duck Shotgun with Original
Case and Accessories Made for the Famed Scottish Eccentric
Charles Gordon - Serial no. 3827, 8 Bore gauge,
34 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue
finish, walnut stock. The makers records confirm
this gun was ordered by Charles Gordon on 25
October 1883 and remains in apparently unfired
condition. Gordon ordered a total of five double
barrel 8 gauge percussion guns from Dicksons, with
this being the first. With browned fine Damascus
barrels signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCES
STREET, EDINBURGH” on the raised concave rib and
with bead front sight. Casehardened patent breeches
finely engraved with scrollwork on the rib and each
with pierced platinum plug engraved with a rosette.
The underside of the barrels struck with London
black powder proof marks and the original brass
mounted ramrod held in place by three ramrod
pipes. Casehardened standing breech with long
tang and back action locks each signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON” and with “Antediluvian” hammer with blued detachable nose. Furniture comprising blued trigger guard and checkered butt plate, and casehardened trigger plate, barrel cross bolt key escutcheons and forearm finial. The whole finely engraved with tight scrollwork. Nicely figured stock with checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt inset with a blank silver initial escutcheon. In original brass cornered oak fitted case lined in tooled pigskin, the lid with John Dickson
& Son leather trade label with gilt lettering, and a full suite of accessories including brass topped Hawksley powder flask with nozzle graduated from “4” to “6” drams of powder and with pigskin covered body, Hawksley shot flask with pig skin bag and casehardened top graduated from “1 1/2” to “2” ounces of shot, a large Hawksley oil bottle, wad cutting punch, white metal Bartram circular percussion cap dispenser and various turnscrews and cleaning tools. Please see Donald Dallas, “Charles Gordon Magnificent Madness”, pp. 43-45 where this gun is discussed and illustrated. This gun is also the subject of an online “The Explora” article by Anthony Alborough-Tregear (Trigger) of Westley Richards, April 19, 2017.
CONDITION: In incredible original condition. The barrels retain nearly all of the original browned finish, the
breeches nearly all of the original casehardened finish. The standing breech and back action locks again with
nearly all of the original casehardened finish, perhaps the slightest loss to finish from handling around the
back of the locks. The bluing on the trigger guard has flaked leaving around 60% remaining. The butt plate
has fared better and retains around 95% original blued finish with some rubbing around the edges. Stock
has nice figure, well defined checkering, and only minor handling blemishes. The case and accessories are in
similar magnificent condition. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 35,000
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