Charles Roth (Christian Charles Roth, 1815-1903) was born in Germany and was active in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, by around 1840 after arriving in the U.S in 1837. Similarities between Roth's work and Nicholas Hawk's are noteworthy. Hawk lived just south of Roth and died in 1844. This same patch box design, for example, is known on Hawk's rifles, and the basic layout of their swivel breech guns are similar. Roth is reported in the March 28, 1902, "Wilkes-Barre Record" as having locked up his gunshop and joined the home guards upon learning of Lee's invasion in 1862. He returned to his shop after the war and left it in the hands of his son when he retired in 1887. Both barrels are .50 caliber and have traditional low-profile blade and notch sights. One barrel is smoothbore, and the other is rifled. Both are stamped "CHAs ROTH" and "WILKES BARRE" on the top flat between the rear sight and breech. The lock is unmarked. The barrel release is on the left, and it is equipped with double set triggers, a slender maple stock, two ramrods, a "C.S." inscribed German silver cheekpiece inlay (most likely the initials of an unknown original owner), unmarked thumb plate and lower cheek inlay, and a long toe plate.

Very good overall with a dark brown blend on the barrels, gray and brown patina and faint case colors on the lock, mild pitting concentrated on the hammer and breech sections, attractive aged patinas on the furniture, some attractive figure on the fine stock, small hairline cracks at the tail of the lock and left side plate, moderate scrapes on the left side of the butt, and proud buttplate at the toe on the right. This combination gun is a fine representative example of early American firearms borrowing much of its form from the famous American long rifle and a very attractive example of Roth's work.