Percussion Cape Gun by Nelson Lewis of Troy, NY

.45 caliber/20 gauge. 31" wedge retained barrels. NSN. Browned finish, iron furniture, hardwood half-stock with raised cheek rest. Double barrel percussion combination muzzleloading rifle and shotgun with back action locks and double triggers. Locks unmarked, barrel rib marked N LEWIS MAKER TROY NY. Elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, dovetailed German silver Rocky Mountain front sight blade, hole in tang for peep sight that is not present. Iron furniture includes a simple two-piece iron patchbox, double finger rest triggerguard, crescent buttplate, plain toe plate, wedge escutcheons and combination nose cap and entry pipe. Two plain iron thimbles retain an old wooden ramrod.

Nelson Lewis (1811-1888) was born in Speigletown, NY. According to his obituary in the Troy Daily Times he "lived in this city (Troy) nearly all his life. He was a gunsmith by trade, and the rifles of his manufacture had a national reputation while muzzleloading firearms were in vogue. He was also celebrated as a marksman, and his gun shop at the corner of Congress and Church streets was a rendezvous for the sportsmen for miles around Troy. He was the inventor of many improvements to firearms. He was the incorporator of the Central Gun Club of Rensselaer County." Lewis had worked as a market hunter during his career and was apprenticed to J.M. Caswell of Lansingburg, NY prior to opening his shop in Troy in 1843, where he remained in business for more than 40 years. He was particularly well known for his high quality target and match rifles, as well as for making cape guns and was known for using gain twist rifling in most of his rifles. He also produced sharpshooter's rifles during the Civil War and was himself a consummate target shooter. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bores good, both moderately oxidized with some pitting, the shotgun bore being mostly smooth and the rifle bore with deep, crisp 7-groove rifling with the lands roughly twice as wide as the grooves. Metal with a mixture of old brown and moderately oxidized brown patina, with some areas of lightly scattered pitting and some freckles of surface roughness as well as some surface rust. Markings mostly legible. Locks mechanically functional, both hammers show some chipping and wear around their skirts and the left hammer screw is replaced. Stock is solid with scattered bumps, dings and mars from handling and use.

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Percussion Cape Gun by Nelson Lewis of Troy, NY

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