5/25/2021 – Arms and Armor

10 gauge, 30″ barrels, no S/N. Browned Damascus patterned barrels, color casehardened receiver and locks, checkered pistol grip stock with smooth steel buttplate and checkered splinter forend with contrasting tip insert. Side lever action breechloading cartridge shotgun apparently altered from an originally percussion gun with one-piece stock altered to a hinged two-piece stock secured by the break off breech and wedge. Highly figured walnut stock appears to be spliced at the rear of the pistol grip. Rib engraved H.E. Dimick St. Louis Mo, locks engraved with game scenes and marked H.E. Dimick. Horace Dicmick (1809-1873) was major gun maker and retailer in St. Louis ca1849-1873 and was a contemporary of other notable St. Louis gunmakers like the Hawkens and TJ Albright. Dimick firearms from this period are extremely desirable and collectible, and this is a particularly interesting example of Dimick’s work.