Black powder side by side

[Cgrutt]

Up on the ceiling beams at my buddy's camp. He picked it up at a garage sale a few years ago. Not functioning but pretty cool. Percussion cap black powder side-by-side shot gun. We couldn't find any markings on it but didn't check under barrels. Anybody have any idea what this might be?

[thughes]

I believe that is a.......cool ass old gun? Have you verified that it's not loaded (I've been told it's not uncommon for these old garage/estate sale finds to still be loaded).

[Cgrutt]

Funny you should say that. It looked like one side might be loaded actually. Dropped the ram rod down both cylinders and one side was about 3/4" deeper than the other. There are no hammers or percussion caps. If he's not worried neither am I.

[thughes]

A squirt of oil into the breech might not be a bad idea if one is overly cautious (if you're not worried neither am I). Hopefully somebody can tell us more about it.

[Cgrutt]

I'll pass along info, thanks.

[Meketrefe]

Very hard to say with that picture and data.
It looks the barrel assembly is canted and damaged. Also the 2nd trigger seems
to be missing not only the hammers.
Any markings might be in the action and/or under the handguard hidden from view.
BAsed on the style it looks something from the late 1800's. It could be a number
of makers like E.James &CO, Schenider & CO, Leeman Percussion, etc...
Sometimes only very small numbers were made with the same finishing or inlays
and even custom finishing if it wasn't added later.
If you want a functioning one from that era you can find them in the auctions for
$100-$300 for the popular ones including confederate single shot.
I don't know much about classics rifles, pistols or shotguns but it has to be a very
unique piece to be worth restoring.

[harleyhutch]

The answer to you question is,

A black powder side by side, better known as a wall hanger.

[Cgrutt]

Yeah definitely a wall hanger. He's not looking to shoot it, just find out more about it. Mek I think you're seeing the ram rod on bottom of twin barrels in picture above. I don't think barrels were canted in any meaningful way, in fact, you can only see one side of barrel looking at picture above. I also don't believe it ever had two triggers but didn't look that closely. Aside from some surface rust and the missing hammers, it was in relatively decent shape presuming its pushing 100 yrs or more.

[Pissed Off Patriot]

They do make reproductions of these as well, so without better pictures, who can say? I'm sure there are differences that any kind of expert (which I am not) would notice right away.