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Snider left hand 8 guage

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Shamu View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 8:00am
I have an off-the-wall idea, but before I make a twit of myself a question, is it rifled or smooth-bore?
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote paddyofurniture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 8:24am
Line throwing rifle?
Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 9:22am
Odder than that if I'm right.
Much odder.
Evil Smile
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hoadie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 11:48am
They don't come much odder than you.

Paddy - I already suggested that.
Loose wimmen tightened here
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 1:50pm
Not me, the gun!
Oi!
Confused
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8bore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 1:57pm
The anchor marks that are on the wood is also on the barrel, see the earlier photos, can chalk that one too. The barrel is 32.5 inches long. We can not find that anchor mark anywhere on the internet, even Belgium, if it were manufactured in Belgium, it would have to have their proof marks for it, even before being reproofed in England.

It is a smoothbore.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 11 2016 at 8:35pm
Lou,
 
I am sure by now that you will be thinking we are bashing this gun.
I am sorry if that is how it comes over!
My questions are that if it saw service in British hands, it would have to have British inspection marks.  These are not Brit. marks on the metal, only British proofs.
The other marks on the wood don't stack up in my mind, and again, if they were kosha, the metal should be stamped accordingly.
I do not know how long the War Dep't used the B of O stamps for, but think it likely for only a few years, and this gun is likely from the 1870's at any rate.
Also, if it were made for use by the Royal Navy, it would be  to a sealed pattern. (not left-handed and a sporting style lock)
Now, in my mind, it Could be an arm pressed into service, and marked as such, but his would be  irregular.
Only thing that comes to mind where non-standard and cut -downs were used , was in the Newfoundland sealing ships.  Quite a lot of cut -down Sniders were used in that industry.
Maybe this one was for gathering Eider -ducks!.....wildfowling guns could come in 10, 8  5 & 4 -bore plus 2 -bore on occasion, as you know.
It isn't a wildfowling gun for a gentleman, but would do the job for market or commercial gunning.
 
Actually, the Belgian rules of proof were not as fixed at British ones, and I do believe that guns were imported and proofed in the UK, so bear just one set of proofs at times.
I am fuzzy on this though, and need to check.
 
Best,
Richard.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8bore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2016 at 3:09am
Hi All, We appreciate all and any information we can find out about with this gun, The guys at the NMRN in England had no problem with the BO marking, but interesting you say that. We thought it may of been a food gathering gun, either whale/elephant? Whatever it is, its a mystery and an interesting one, its in fantastic condition and we love it,the pictures really don't do it justice, we may never find out what or where it came from. But if anyone ever does find out anything, please let us know, whatever it is. Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2016 at 5:11am
"It is a smoothbore."
OK, I'm wondering if it might be a "kiln gun"
Shocked
They used to use large bore shotguns (all the way up to 2 bore) to clear dried clay mastic from kiln mouths, wild guess but it might also explain the need for a left hand action?

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2016 at 11:36am
I rang a guy who was a professional wildfowler years ago asked him if he knew anything about the Snider. He does and I asked him to join the forum and give us all the lowdown. So watch this space.
Rottie (PitBulls dad.)


“If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons

Born free taxed to death!!!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2016 at 11:52am
Originally posted by 8bore 8bore wrote:

With the demise of the Board in 1855, the War Department and today's Ministry of Defence continued to use the mark.

This is what we found out about for the BO marks, so yes the Board ceased in 1855 but the mark continued with the War Department.

We will use chalk to highlight them better in the photos for you.
 
8 bore,
 
I think that passage you quote has caused a bit of confusion..
 
I found said quote on Wiki, and the subject is "The Broad Arrow."
 
Yes indeed, the broad arrow was used by the War Department but with "WD"  Not with "BO"
So yes, as we know the broad arrow was used on everything just about, but not after 1855 with the Board of Ordnance stamp,  "B O"...........after 1855 it was used along with "W-D".
This gun would have to have been made a good long time after the B of O ceased to exist.
 
Hope this helps.  This mark isn't kosha on the gun in question.
As for wildfowling guns, yes, Sniders were used but not that widely.
I would have expected a longer barrel though.  Maybe close -range African game?  Plenty of smooth -bores were used at this time, with shorter barrels.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8bore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 20 2016 at 1:28am
Hi everyone, Thanks to you all for your input on this gun, we can see how you may think the broad arrow mark is not genuine, its not what we agree with, but can see how it looks like that, the British were very careful with their markings, it may of been the angle it was struck when hammered onto the stock (maybe?),

With the quote from wiki, we were thinking the gun may of been made around the time the the BO was changing over to the WD, of course we don't know for sure.

We did think it may of been a food gathering gun perhaps either at sea or land, to see this gun in real life is quite different to the photos, the size of it is to be admired :)

On another note, we did pick up an even older gun on the weekend, a beautifully cased Thomas Manton muzzle loading shotgun and have been able to date it between 1817-1825, fantastic bores, its the new addition to the family :)) Just lovely!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2016 at 11:55am
he!!o again  8-bore.
 
I'd love to see some photos of the Thos Manton if available.
 
What bore is it?
 
I'm sorry if the "B-O" bit came over negative. Can only go with what I saw, but grated it is a grand gun!
 
Best,
Richard.
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