.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}