The makers records confirm that this gun was completed for Charles Gordon on the 20 November 1889 weighing in at a mighty 22 lbs. and it remains in apparently unfired condition. With browned fine damascus barrels signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH” on the broad raised flat rib and with bead front sight. Casehardened patent breeches finely engraved with scrollwork and each with platinum plug engraved with a rosette. The underside of the barrels struck with London black powder proof marks. The barrels retained in the stock by two cross bolts and the original brass mounted wooden ramrod held in place by four ramrod pipes. Casehardened standing breech with long tang and back action locks each signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON”. Furniture comprising blued trigger guard and butt plate, and casehardened trigger plate, barrel cross bolt key escutcheons and forearm finial. The whole finely engraved with tight scrollwork. Straight grained stock with long forearm, the grip and forearm with crisp bold checkering and the underside of the butt inset with a blank silver initial escutcheon. In original brass bound mahogany fitted case lined in tooled pigskin, the lid with John Dickson & Son leather trade label with gilt lettering, and a full suite of accessories including brass topped powder flask with nozzle graduated from “4” to “8” drams of powder and with pigskin covered body, Hawksley shot flask with pig skin bag and casehardened top graduated from “3” to “4” ounces of shot, a blued and casehardened mainspring clamp, a large Hawksley oil bottle, wad cutting punch and various turnscrews and cleaning tools. Please see Donald Dallas, “Charles Gordon Magnificent Madness”, pp. 54-57 where this gun is discussed and illustrated. Dallas confirms that this is the only double 4 gauge muzzle loader ordered by Charles Gordon and was Lot 277 in the 1908 auction sale of his muzzle loading guns where it sold for 26s. (£1. 30p.).

Barrels retaining 98% original browned finish with fine damascus pattern, rib signature crisp, some occasional handling and storage scratches to tubes. Breeches retaining near 100% original casehardened finish. Standing breech and back action locks (left lock at fault) retaining near 100% original casehardened finish. Trigger guard and butt plate with near 100% original blued finish. Engraving crisp throughout. Stock with well defined checkering, some scattered handling marks. Case and accessories in fabulous condition. Mechanically excellent. This is quite possibly the finest double 4 bore percussion gun extant. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.