This short double barrel percussion rifle or "howdah rifle" is one of only two "double carbines" with 22 inch barrels listed in John Dickson & Son's records. The Damascus barrels have two-groove rifling for shooting winged bullets or patched round balls/ The matted rib is fitted with a bead style blade front sight, four leaf flat folding rear sight with gold sight lines, "JOHN DIXON & SON" signed on the left barrel and "60 PRINCES STREET EDINBURGH." on the right, the serial number on the underside of each barrel as well as on the breech hooks, and "J D & S" and London black powder proofs also on the underside of each barrel. The flat locks are signed "JOHN DIXON & SON" and have sliding half-cock safeties ahead of the hammers. There is scroll and foliate engraving throughout along with a scene of a running stag on the patchbox, a tiger on the trigger guard, and a leopard and cobra on the heel of the buttplate. The trigger guard and buttplate feature a recut engraving in a different style. The half-length stock has a checkered forend and wrist, blank initial oval on the bottom of the butt, an oval cheekpiece, and a 14 5/8 inch length of pull. The rifle comes in a double layer oak case with russet leather lining, Dickson trade label noting them as "MAKERS OF THE IMPROVED TWO GROOVED RIFLES" inside the lid, and a large array of loading and maintenance equipment, including a matching numbered winged bullet mold as well as a round ball mold, two powder flasks, a leather sling, and much more. Load data recorded in a note in the patchbox and a test target in the case indicates that the rifle shot well with 70 grains of FFFg powder under two greased felt wads with a .648 round ball and .020 pillow ticking patch at 50 yards using a dead on hold with the bead and rib.

Fine with rebrowned barrels displaying distinct twist patterns, strong original case colors on the breech plugs, mostly faded colors elsewhere, much of the blue remaining on the trigger guard and buttplate, general minor wear, and distinct markings and engraving. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering and general mild scratches and bruises. Mechanically excellent. The case and other accessories are generally fine with age and storage related wear, including some separation on the smaller flask and cracks in the case. Overall, this is a very attractive and rare short John Dickson & Son double rifle. It certainly looks like it would have been a handy rifle for hunting in India.