Geo. Cox, probably British

[Craig Wilcox]

Just acquired a beautiful double shotgun, 15 bore, beautifully engraved, damascus barrels.  Locks are engraved Geo. Cox, barrel "COX    WINCHESTER".  This is a percussion gun, in great condition.  Barrels ARE marked "15", and from the front of the breech to the ends of the barrels is 27.3".  Right handy, pointing it, the brass sight is just below the target.

If anyone knows of Mr. Geo. Cox, or his relationship with "Winchester", please let me know when and where this fine shotgun might have been made.  If I had a camera, I'd post some photos.  Maybe next week I can borrow one.

[T*O*F]

"Cox, George Thomas, Winchester, Hampshire
Parchment Street  1858-1867"

Aaron, Charles, Henry, and John located in Winchester from 1829 to 1867 at different addresses.  Must have been a family affair.

[Craig Wilcox]

Dave, that is GREAT research.  I looked in our libraries, and did a google search, got nothing.  And here you have the guy's address - maybe I should mail him a letter and see just when he made this beautiful 15-bore.  Not too many of them running about, but Track does have the different wads needed in the correct size.  Bores are at 0,685". 

With those pretty, twisted damascus steel barrels, i am not even going to try shooting balls.  I'll stick to birdshot.  I have a 10-, 12-, 16, and 20-bore shotguns, one of those will handle a ball.

Of course, with the demise of Goex powder mill, I think we are all going to be hurting for black powder.  Got a few pounds of the Goex, and a few of Olde Eynsford, in both FFg and FFFg.  After that, it's going to be a slingshot - have one of those also, with a red laser on it even.

Again, Dave - thank you so much for the research.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

A ball of the same or close to the same weight as a charge of shot will not add pressure to the load, and will be safe to shoot out of that gun.

[Daryl]

A ball of the same or close to the same weight as a charge of shot will not add pressure to the load, and will be safe to shoot out of that gun.

Ditto, my feelings as well.
.685" bores is - is that due to some belling at the muzzles?
.685" is exactly in the middle of 14 and 15 bore sizes, being .008" each way.
Do you have the long handled inside expandable ball gauges?

[Craig Wilcox]

Daryl, nope!  No extendable micrometer.

And Taylor, was thinking that about 3/4 oz, or ball of about the same weight, would do fine.  Either with about 50-65 gr FFg would probably do fine.  I do have a 25-lb bag of 7 1/2 shot, minus a bit I used for leather bags that I use when bench shooting.  That shot is available if/when I need it.  Like to get a bag of about #6 and #4 shot also.

I have several smoothbores to choose from, but this particular double, with it's short barrels (27.3") just seems to swing and point nicely for me.  I will get my borescope out before too long, and take a look inside the barrels for any obvious weak spots.

[Daryl]

I find no guns point as well as English doubles. I guess if designed in that style, American guns could swing well too.