doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 15 bore percussion double?

I just learned something...

Recoil Bob,
The rules of proof, 1813-1863, applied when your gun was made.These rules specified bore size and test load for each bore size from 1-50. The bore size given for 15 bore was .685 The proof load is given as 4 times the standard charge.The proof marks on your gun contain the letters B.P.C which indicates that the gun was made and proof tested in Birmingham,some time after 1855 and more than likely prior to 1863.
Hollis and Sheath 1849-1861 was re organised as Isaac Hollis & Sons.In 1861 the name was changed again to Hollis and Sons.
From a trade label in my collection we read that they were,Contractors to Her Majesty,s war department & manufacturers of double and single barrel fowling pieces,rifles,pistols and military arms.

I have a 15 bore sxs muzzle loader. Thats a pretty nice gun from the looks of it.

I've always believed there was a connotation of happiness intended (in addition to the divine protection and guidance) when an artist used a dolphin image. Something about the way they leap, especially near the bow of a boat.

I see them every day here...Once when the water was mirrorlike, we shut down the boat and waited for a school of several hundred to reach us. My Brittany, Charlie, got so excited he jumped into the water. They played together until Charlie got tired and scared...Something I will never forget...

Actually, the hole in the platinum plug is also a clean out
device, The pressure blowing out each firing keeps the bolster clean and prevents fowling

Never heard that before....what's the bolster ?

Those barrels look to have been un-breeched. The rib on the plug does not perfectly align on top and the keel piece, or short rib on the bottom looks to be loose(?)

Removing breech plugs is a major undertaking and they can be very difficult to realign, this also might account for jug choking that you are apparently measuring. Jug choking is only reliably done with the plugs removed.

Platinum vents were quite common throughout the percussion era, and when clear will puff smoke as the gun is fired. I'd think twice about shooting that one, and have an experience person do a very thorough inspection.

I used to shoot and work on muzzleloading guns quite extensively, my fav double was a 14 ga. Belgian gun. I still have a 20 ga. flint gun of my own making and jug choked dozens of barrels. (I no longer do any M/L work.)

SDH,I am not so sure on the misalignment of the breech plugs and the rest of the barrel assembly. The joints between each on the sides and bottom appear to fit perfectly. Maybe the rib has raised a bit, so it looks misaligned.

The hooks do have some shiny marks but looking from the underneath the breech plugs look to be in perfect alignment.

From what I've heard jug choking can and was often done on muzzle-loaders without removing the breech plugs with expandable reamers.

From what I'm looking at I'd have no fear at all of firing it.