Need info. on a antique percussion over/under, rifle/shotgun

[RHBensonII]

I have a O/U percussion firearm that has been handed down to me through my family. I don't see any markings on the gun concerning the builder. I received this gun with some others that were built by my GG uncles M.M. Benson and E.D. Benson who had shops in northern West Virginia. I suspect that it was built by Ezra Benson. The upper barrel is approx. 36cal and the bottom is smooth bore and measures approx. .645". I am not very familiar with rifles from this period, but I have never seen a configuration like this from this geographical area. I noticed that the "X" marks on the bottom of the butt stock are quite common on some of Ezra's builds.
I would like each of you to take a look at the pictures and help identify the builder, the time period, and the rarity of this design.

Thanks for your help,
Richard Benson
Ocala, Florida

[Avlrc]

I think you already figured out who the maker is. I don't remember seeing a combo Benson, so I would say it is rare. Cool looking gun. Thanks for sharing. 
https://hampshirecountylongrifle.blogspot.com/search?q=Benson

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2238.0

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6967.0

[Jim S]

How does the mechanism work on that rifle? I can't seem to figure out how the bottom barrel would be fired.

[taterbug]

flipping up the small extension attached to the bottom bolster.  Would guess there is a small 'plunger' in that extension that moves when struck by the added rod on the hammer.  The plunger would then strike the lower percussion cap. 

The lower bolster screw would need to be a 'shoulder' type screw to allow that extension to swivel up when needed. 

[Jim S]

Oh, now I can understand it. Those old time gunsmiths came up with neat ideas!

[OLUT]

flipping up the small extension attached to the bottom bolster.  Would guess there is a small 'plunger' in that extension that moves when struck by the added rod on the hammer.  The plunger would then strike the lower percussion cap. 

The lower bolster screw would need to be a 'shoulder' type screw to allow that extension to swivel up when needed.

A really rare variant that is in great condition and happily the gun still resides within the maker's family.  The OP's photos are excellent. Thanks for the posting. Are there any stampings on the barrel?
   Several makers came up with individual "one-off" mechanisms to fire both barrels of fixed breech over under guns with only one back action lock. None were a commercial success, so they are rarely seen. In my 60+ years of collecting percussion over under guns, I've never seen one constructed with this specific design. Taterbug hit the function of the missing transfer piece pretty well. The most similar one is on a Nathan B.Tyler gun from Vienna,Ohio . On his the "thumb piece" mounted at the bottom of the lock is pushed up to connect the auxiliary striker on the hammer with the bottom nipple.

[RHBensonII]

taterbug has a very good description of how the bottom barrel will be fired. I have included two new photos of the gun set to fire the bottom barrel.
Thank you OLUT for the information and the picture of the Tyler gun. I can't find any stampings on any part of the gun.
Avirc: thanks for the links to Benson rifles




website to store pictures for free

[Bill Paton]

Strong attribution on a very interesting and unique family rifle. It’s most unusual to see a double barreled rifle made in the “South”. I only have a handfull of documted Southern ones in my study collection of over 250 of them. Glad you have it in your family.

Bill Paton