Product Details
BIGELOW, ROCHESTER, N.Y.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND FINE 54-BORE & 13-BORE PERCUSSION REVOLVING COMBINATION GUN, MODEL 'J. & J. MILLER'S PAT.', no visible serial number,
manufactured sometime between 1835 and 1850, with 27 1/2in. over-under barrels, the rifled 54-bore barrel above the smooth-bore 13-bore, bead fore-sight, standing notch rear-sight, the top of breech-end signed 'BIGELOW ROCHESTER N.Y.', both sides of the barrel with double-ribbed side pipes accommodating two different diameters of brass mounted wooden ramrods, fully fluted hand-indexed seven-shot cylinder with fine longitudinal ribs, each chamber straight rifled for much of its length, the shot barrel forming the cylinder axle, the heavily recessed percussion nipples probably replacing an original pill-priming system but retaining the original pill tensioning arm, squared action body with rounded top, the forward section engraved with bordered panels of checker-board engraving, border, scroll and geometrically engraved back-action lock signed 'BIGELOW', engraved top-tang and hammer (much colour to both), chequered walnut butt-stock with fully inlet border engraved iron patch-box to the right side of butt, the lid engraved with a trophy of balloons, border engraved and chequered iron heel-plate, border engraved trigger-guard bow with central American shield and raised scrolled tang, trigger-plate action under-hammer forwards of the bow operating the shot-barrel and cylinder lock forwards of the cylinder to underside of barrel, traces of finish
Other Notes: William Bigelow worked for J. & J. Miller in Rochester, N.Y. until he later moved to California where he continued to make revolving arms. Also known as Billinghurst rifles, these unusual guns were originally patented by James Miller (of J. & J. Miller) in 1829. Most often encountered are plain finished rifles that can be chambered for anywhere between four and nine shots. It is widely believed that less than 25 of these combination arms were produced, and that this particular example was William Bigelow's personal arm.
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Estimate £10,000-15,000