This is the first gun ordered from John Dickson & Son by the renowned Scottish eccentric Charles Gordon, the gun that started his obsession! The maker’s records confirm that this gun was completed for Gordon on 30th July 1868, when Gordon was just 15 years old, and it remains in virtually unfired condition. The action features rebounding locks which had only been designed the year before by John Stanton making this amongst the first rebounding hammerguns. This was cutting edge stuff for 1868 which begs the question as to where Gordon’s later obsession with obsolete system muzzle loaders stemmed from… With browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of stylised foliage at the breech end, concave rib signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63. PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH”, fitted with silver bead front sight and engraved with a spray of scrollwork at the breech end. Casehardened action with carved percussion fences and rebounding side locks each signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON”. Furniture including blued underlever, trigger guard and butt plate. Fine border and scroll engraving throughout. Barrels struck with London black powder reproof marks. Well figured straight hand stock with checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt with blank silver initial escutcheon, the forearm with barrel key fastener. In original oak fitted case lined in pigskin, the lid with large printed John Dickson & Son trade label, and with a near complete suite of accessories including casehardened mainspring clamp, spare mainsprings, various turnscrews and cleaning tools, and cartridge reloading accessories and tools. Please see Donald Dallas, "Charles Gordon: Magnificent Madness," pp. 27-28 and p. 31 where this gun is discussed and the original order is illustrated.

Barrels retaining 98% original browned finish, fine twist pattern, signature crisp. Action and locks retaining 80% original casehardened finish, faded on the underside of the action. Furniture retaining 90% original blued finish. Engraving is crisp throughout although a little flattened on the underside of the action probably the result of rubbing whilst in the case. Stock in very good condition, crisp checkering, small dent to underside of the butt and small dent within the checkering of the forearm. Mechanically excellent. Case in very good condition, lining with very minor staining to lid, accessories in very good condition. This is as good as it gets for an early high quality breech loading hammer gun. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.