Pennsylvania Combo Percussion Gun

[Leighton]

This is a combination rifle-shotgun,  .38 cal rifle and 16 ga shotgun. The top rib is marked Chas. Weir,  Thompson, Pa.Anyone know anything about the area or the Maker?
 

[jwh1947]

Dear Sir, I have no Weir in my Pennsylvania database and Frank Sellers, a good but neither absolute nor final general reference, lists none.  I can tell you that Thompson is a little town in the extreme northeast of the state, Susquehanna County, I think, up near the New York border to the east of Interstate 81.  Hope this helps.  Incidentally, very nice and interesting firearm.  JWH

[Leighton]

It may be of course that Chas Weir was the owners name. This gun was so expertly made that I think it was a well known maker that didnt sign it.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I agree with Leighton...the craftsmanship of the arm is not reflected in the crude stamping at the breech...suspect owner's own work there.

[T*O*F]

This gun was so expertly made that I think it was a well known maker that didnt sign it.

I don't find the gun to be expertly made, only made to commercial standards.  I have seen quite of few of these, which are almost identical.  In the post Civil War era, there were many commercial supply houses which imported and sold everything required for the gun trade.....including guns.  Small mercantile concerns purchased these products for sale in their own stores and often stamped their own information on the ribs.  It is my opinion that this is one of those guns.

From the 1871 Great Western Gun Works wholesale catalog:
No.114, plain iron barrels, patent breech, side by side, back action locks, oiled walnut stock, 32 to 36 inch barrels, rifle 60 to 100 balls, shot barrels 11 to 16 bore, weight  9 to 10-1/2 pounds.  Price....$30.00

Similar wholesale listings are found in Folsom Bros and Homer Fisher's catalogs.

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Leighton,
Welcome to ALR.....  Cool gun, thanks for posting it. 

Have you removed the barrels?  Perhaps their are some proof or other markings on the bottom sides.  I'm no expert, but I would expect them if the piece is imported, yes?

-Ron

[Leighton]

No proofs or other marks under the bbls.. Great Western is a good suspect although the workmanship is better than other Great Western guns that I have seen.

[mr. no gold]

Just an aside; an old time collector here in Southern California famously said of these pieces that "These double guns were the guns that made the West safe for the Colt and the Winchester". Can't disagree with him!
Nice piece, thank you for bringing it our attention.
Dick

[lew wetzel]

the letters arent even lined up straight...who ever stamped this gun probably didnt build it...it is a very interesting gun and thanks for posting the pics and sharing..

[nord]

Just a comparison for the record. Jacob Harder... Owego, NY / Waverly, NY / Athens, PA / Lock Haven, PA

One rifle made in Waverly. The other in Athens. Same time period as your combo rifle, but the difference in detail and overall quality is evident.