Manufactured circa 1850s. The Damascus barrels feature a solid rib which is marked "JOSEPH NEEDHAM & Co 26 PICCADILLY LONDON". The floral scroll engraved breech blocks are opened by lifting the finger pieces and swinging outward. The breech blocks are marked "J. NEEDLEHAM'S/No. 960/PATENT" at the rear. The trigger guard is engraved with a dog, has a foliage engraved tang numbered "960" and a pineapple finial. The straight grip stock has checkering on the forearm and wrist, a single barrel wedge, a blank silver initial oval ahead of the trigger guard and a flat metal buttplate. The needle fire method of igniting the charge used a firing pin or a longer sharper needle to provide the necessary impact. Joseph Needham manufactured the most widely used British hammerless needle fire shotguns, which used an unusual hinged chamber and fixed barrel design like this shotgun.