doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com MacNaughton 32 bore

Having written the maker without reply to date, thought I'd ask for knowledge that might exist on the forum. I have a MacNaughton double hammerless sidelever "Marsupial Express" in 32 bore.
Appears to be around turn of the century. About the size of a small .410 double. Anyone have or know of such a piece? Interested in the history of this particular model. I'm assuming it was what the name implies; maybe for marsupials or small game in Australia or S. Africa?

Can you post pictures?

ohlode....... You have likley stroked the nail on the head
Had a very petite I.Hollis .410, marked "The Collector" and marked with an Aussie address, probably intended for very fine shot to collect specimens, would think yours was intended as a garden gun.

For your interest,the book, "Birmingham Gunmakers" by Douglas Tate, features on its dust cover a magnificent pair of W.W. Greener 32G; box lock shotguns made in 1937.[ Clearly best quality game guns].
Eley made 32 G cartridges between the wars, but production is not mentioned in any of my post W.W.2 Eley literature.

I'll see if I can post some photos. Thanks to all for the input. Snake gun, garden gun, specimen gun, all adds up.
It's quite fine work; select wood, tight checkering, precise fit, and a respectable amount of engraving other than the side of the lock which simply says, "Marsupial Express". I'll see if I can locate the Birmingham book. I think the side lever would date it to turn of the century or slightly before but not sure about that? Still hoping Dickson and MacNaughton will respond.

32-bores are often encountered in 'adult sizes' with longer barrels and stocks than 28-bore and .410 (which is 36-bore) children's guns.

They were often taken overseas to use for shooting specimens for stuffing - hummingbirds and the like. I see three or four a year in various guises. Never seen a MacNaughton example.

Pics please. Funny, Highlander blades were cleavers, but their guns are gems!

Probably built for rogue Platypi (plural of Platypus(ses) in the event of close-quarter charges at slow-moving canoes along the croc-infested coastal and inland rivers. Something like the "Under Wild Skies" episode where Tony Makris took on a wounded Hippo that made it into barely deep enough water to hide him after being shot. Tony tried to 'mellow up' the rogue using a .577 NE from the standing position in the makula, shooting down into the water. 11 Rounds later they finally killed him, but as Tony put it, "we already lost money on the film; I shot up around $400 worth of ammo dealing with the refractory index and soaked the whole crew in the process!! KBM

28ga = .550"
32ga = .526"
36ga = .506"
67.49ga = .410"
12mm =.472"
A .410 is a .410 regardless of whether some maker stamps 12mm or 36ga upon it. 12mm is approximate size of the chamber & 36ga is just a smaller number than 32. If it's made in a proof law country look to the proofer's bore stamp, it will be different than the makers if either of those marks are used.