J. Withers over/under rifle/smooth bore.

[bpd303]

I picked this over under mule ear percussion combination gun in 2012 and it was in pretty good shape for it's age. I completely went through it to get it in firing condition. The rifled barrel is 40 caliber and the smooth bore is .600 about 22gauge. It's marked J. Withers on the barrel and lock. Wondering if anyone has info on the builder. It sure is a good shooter with patched round ball and #4 shot. Has the original wood rammer's for each barrel.













remove duplicate numbers online

[dadybear1]

BPD—do both hammers fire together or independant(singely))..  nice.

[smylee grouch]

I think there was a Withers out Los Vegas way in the late 80s or early 90s if my memory serves. 

[Daryl]

BPD—do both hammers fire together or independant(singely))..  nice.

Seriously?

[tooguns]

BPD—do both hammers fire together or independant(singely))..  nice.

Seriously?

What he said

[bpd303]

BPD—do both hammers fire together or independant(singely))..  nice.

Only one hammer can be cocked at a time and the trigger has to be set to engage the sear.
One of the main springs had been replaced long ago and it's held in with a rivet instead of a screw.

[bpd303]

I just ran across this picture of the muzzle and thought I would put it in.

[Hungry Horse]

 Different versions of double (or more) rifle/shotguns were very popular on the west coast just before cartridge guns became popular. A lot of people carried one in their buggies, hence the term”buggy rifle”.
 I made one years ago from a round .45 caliber barrel from one of those break action muzzle loaders that had the breech plug held in with an “O”ring, and an old 24 guage shotgun barrel. It was an over and under, with a long nosed hammer on the left side. It was very reliable and as far as I know the guy in Nevada that bought it still shoots it. And as I remember the only new parts on it I made.

Hungry Horse











9

[OLUT]

Per the original post's request for info on the builder, he's listed in the 1880 census as born in New York State in about 1819 and now a widower working as a gunsmith in Greenwood, Vernon County, Wisconsin. I know nothing about this gunsmith. The pictured mule ear over under gun is a rather plain, late (probably well after the civil war) hunting piece that is rather typical and similar to many guns made in Michigan and Wisconsin about this same period by gunmakers who moved west from New York State. They are usually hearty, well built hunting guns.

[bpd303]

That is some great information on the maker and approximate date it was made. Thank you.

[Pro Libertate]

A nice piece, for sure!