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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9 |
Good morning all!
I visit this site quite frequently, but seldom post here unless your collective knowledge might help me out. A friend brought by a gun he'd like to hang on the wall of his hunting cabin. The barrels are pretty much toast with pitting and rust, and the top rib is only attached for about three inches near the hammers. He asked if I could re-solder the top rib so it would present better at the cabin. No problems there, but can anyone tell me anything about the gun?
Its a muzzle loading shotgun, at least 12 gauge, (haven't measured bore yet) with 45" barrels, a real beast. We think the gun came from the Baltimore area. Pretty heavily engraved, and some real nice inlayed metal work. A.C. Baxter (I think)is engraved toward the rear of each side lock.
Very faint proof marks (not sure of the origin) visible on each tube underneath the barrels.
Any insight you folks could provide on the gun would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
John Liles
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,696 Likes: 226 |
Any way to take pictures of the proofmarks?
Mike
USAF RET 1971-95 ![[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]](http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/57865_80x60.jpg)
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 617 Likes: 51
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 617 Likes: 51 |
From IGC:
A T Baxter
City/Town Baltimore
County
State/Region/Province Maryland
Country USA
Trade Rifle Maker (Flintlock Kentucky Rifles)
Dates 1830-1840
Not much, I know, but it might help your further research.
Tim
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,743 |
Unless the barrels were imported in a near finished state it most likely will not carry any proof marks. If tubes are imported in a rough state they will occasionally, but not usually, show provisional proof.
Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9 |
Skeettx, Lets see if this works! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts so far. 
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Boxlock
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OP
Boxlock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9 |
trw999,
Thanks, I sent the stock/receiver/engraved sidelocks home with the owner as I'm space limited in my gun room at present. I'll look closer at the engraving when next I've got it in hand. The man that has the gun now was cleaning out a storage container with the previous owner when they came across the gun in its current state of neglect. That persons family was originally from the Baltimore area during the time period you mention for the maker A T Baxter. Would you guess that a maker of "Trade Rifles" might stray into the realm of muzzle loading shotguns if the price were right? The family that originally owned the gun was pretty well healed, and eventually owned a large retail business here in Virginia. There is a double bar gold inlay on the top rib near where the hooks meet the receiver, and one round gold inlay on the each side of the tubes where the cap would sit. I'd guess that she was a pretty expensive piece in her day. I measured the bore diameter at muzzle with a skeets bore gauge, and recorded approximately .750" & .760", so I guess it is a 12 ga.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,758 Likes: 460
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,758 Likes: 460 |
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