Royet Shotgun

[dgm912]

Hello all,

I've only recently found this forum and am hoping someone can shed some light on the history of a shotgun passed on to me from my parents. The firearm in question is a dbl barrel (side by side) percussion muzzle loader. By my guess the 3/4" barrels would indicate it to be 12 Ga.? There are few markings, most notable of which is on the barrels. At the butt end of the barrels on the rib between them are the words "fine laminated steel" in larger script. Additionally on the side of mechanism housing is the name "Geo. Fisher".   Finally, at the butt end of the trigger guard, where it meets the stock, is the name " L. Royet". There is very little on the web about this but I believe this to be from a gunsmith named Louis Royet who worked in Readin, Pa. sometime around the 1870's. Any information or suggestions for resources would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Dan

[Levy]

I believe that G. Fisher (British) made the shotgun and Royet may be the owner or possibly an importer.  I've never seen a shotgun like this marked on the trigger guard by the maker.  Feltwad may have some information on this.  Currently, there is a G. Fisher perc. shotgun on GunBroker.com.  Just type in Fisher on their search and it will go to it.

James Levy

[Feltwad]

Nothing in my records for a George Fisher although there were several generations of Fisher working in Birmingham from 1799 - 1861 as Gun Lock Makers .Maybe some images of the proof marks etc will help,it could also be a cheap Belgium export gun with a English name stamped on it  which was common at that time the most well used English name was Moore.
Feltwad

[eastwind]

I have talked with Dan about this gun, and offer this information.

  It was made by Louis Royet who came from France after the Civil war, and settled in Reading, Pennsylvania. He is well recorded as a gunsmith on 3 different streets in Reading around the latter part of the 19th century, shown in business directories on Court Street in 1890.
He seems to have made only simple, non decorated/engraved shotguns and every one of the three I've seen had Belgium barrels. It appears he assembled the rest of the gun and almost always stamped both the box lock and barrels "L. Royet, Reading, Pa." The name Fisher on Dans' gun is undoubtedly an owner's name.
   Royet, along with Nelson Delaney were the last two gunsmiths to work in Reading and a sample of a Royet shotgun is in the BERKS COUNTY LONG RIFLES & GUNMAKERS Exhibit currently running in Reading and is also shown in the book for the show.
Patrick Hornberger, Curator/author