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Value of10 ga. muzzle loader double barrel shotgun

wcwiremanwcwireman Member Posts: 265 ✭✭✭
edited May 2007 in Ask the Experts
I have a l0 ga. double barrel shotgun with the name Wm. Moore & Co.
The gun seems to be in good condition, has a lot of checkering, (I guess that is what it is called,) on the stock behind the hammers
and there is some engraving by the hammers. There is a rod on the bottom of the two barrels which looks to be original. The rod is for loading the shot, etc. I also have the brass powder flask that looks original and is in great condition. Also have two small brass shot pouches that are mounted on leather that appears to be as old as the gun and the brass. Two gun dealers have given me appraisals and they were not close. Both dealers thought the gun was 10 ga., but were not positive. Can anyone tell me the value of this shotgun? I am interested in selling it. Thanks very much.
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Comments

  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106 ✭
    edited November -1
    There's bad news, bad news, and maybe some better news here...

    1. The gun is a muzzle loader. This generally is about a 35% to 50% demerit when compared to a breach loader.

    2. "Wm. Moore" was a popular name both with Birmingham and Belgian makers. (ELG proofs.) There's a better than even chance of the gun being a Belgian knockoff.

    3. If a Birmingham gun, then slightly better quality than the Belgians, though the value won't reflect that fact.

    Now for the appraisals... The gentleman who told you that the gun was worth about $200.00 was correct.
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  • captkirk3@dslextreme.comcaptkirk3@dslextreme.com Member Posts: 3,804
    edited November -1
    NORD has pretty much summed it up.....You might squeeze another Fifty Bucks out of a collector looking for a Decent Wall Hanger...This gun deffinately is'nt a Safe Shooter.....Best..
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  • wcwiremanwcwireman Member Posts: 265 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you. I appreciate the information. I forgot to ask if anyone can give me a ballpark figure of the age of this gun? Thanks again.
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  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106 ✭
    edited November -1
    Most probably after 1860 and before 1875.

    I don't have data on Wm. Moore (Birmingham or Belgium), so the 1860 date is merely a close guess.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Willm. Moore, London Laminated Steel marked 12 gauge percussion double bbl shotgun with English proofs. It's a very well made and fitted gun that also shoots well. These guns are noticeably better made than the usually found cheap Belgian guns having American or English sounding markings. To check the proofs, remove the ramrod, half cock the hammers, then push the barrel wedge out from right to left. Lift out the barrels and look at the markings under the barrels at the breech end.
    For an English gun you will see a crown over BP and crown over crossed swords and maybe the word Patent and a number like 13 or 10.
    If you see E over LG, it's a Belgian gun.
    If the barrel bores measure just under 3/4" it's a 12 gauge, over 3/4" it's a 10 gauge.
    For the set in very good condition my guess on value is around $500 for an English gun. A Belgian copy would be half that.
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