This rare and unusual British double barrel 12 bore shotgun made by R. Scott & Co features a snap action underlever along with cocking levers. During the 1870's several gunmakers developed hammerless designs including Thomas Murcott's 'Mousetrap' and the Gibbs & Pitt patents. Many shooters of the day were concerned with the general safety of the new hammerless guns and preferred the older hammer designs where it could be easily seen if a gun was cocked and ready for firing. This gun appears to address that concern by the fitting of large cocking levers to each side in addition to a sliding top safety.

The push forward snap action underlever cocks both hammers on opening. Lowering the barrels causes the extractor to rise. The action is locked by Purdey type double sliding underbolts. The hammers can be decocked or recocked as needed using the cocking levers.

Robert Scott was born in Pickering around 1830. The firm was in business as R. Scott & Son in Wilson Street, Middlesborough from 12^th May 1871. The firm is listed in the 1871 Rate Book as:

“R Scott & Son (from Birmingham). Practical gun rifle and pistol maker at 30 Wilson Street, Middlesborough on Tees”.

Listed in 1874 as Robert Scott at 2 James St, North Ormesby, Middlesborough and operated from 19 Morton Road, Middlesborough between 1883 and 1886.           The firm traded as R Scott & Co. between 1890 and 1894

The entire action and lock plates are finely engraved in magnificent English scroll with game scenes.

 The 28" browned damascus barrels appear in excellent condition with tight scrolls throughout. The barrel rib is marked R. SCOTT & Co MAKERS,  MIDDLESBOROUGH.  (879)  PATENT. The barrel flats are marked with Birmingham proofmarks, along with a serial number 861.

The action is marked with Birmingham proof marks along with SCOTT   MAKER along with PATENT and an obscure I & R over B monogram. This appears to be the trademark of Isaac & Reuben Bullock whose provisional patent No. 2163 of 1878 appears to describe the underlever cocking action.

The straight grip stock appears in perfect condition and has possibly been replaced at some time. The inlaid stock escutcheon is unmarked.

The sliding fore-end fastener is inlaid in gold with the word PUSH. This rare and unusual design is built to Registered Design No. 5938 of 1877 granted to Charles Bland Homer of 31½ Lench Street, Birmingham. He was listed in directories of the period as a 'gun finisher'.

The fore-end lug on the barrel is marked REGD 5938 JUNE 25 77.

Further Reading

• The British Shotgun, Volume Two, 1871- 1890, Crudgington & Baker, Ashford Publishing, 1989.
• Patents for Invention, Small Arms, 1877 - 1888, Armory Publications, 1993.
• British Gunmakers, Volume Two - Birmingham, Scotland & the Regions, Nigel Brown, Quiller Publishing, 2005.