The maker’s records confirm that this rifle was completed on March 18, 1852 for a Henry Davidson Esq. With browned damascus twist octagonal barrel signed on the top flat “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 60. PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH” and fitted with bead front sight and blued rear sight of one standing and two folding leaves. The barrel is rifled with two deep grooves for a winged conical bullet. Casehardened breech with platinum plug engraved with a rosette, inlaid with a platinum line and engraved with a roped border line and scrollwork. Barrel struck with London proof marks. Casehardened side lock with safety catch, signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON”. Casehardened standing breech and furniture including hinged patch box cover, and blued pistol grip trigger guard and butt plate. Border and scroll engraved throughout, the lock with a vignette of a dead stag, the patch box cover with a standing stag, and the tang of the butt plate with a stag’s head. Well figured straight hand half stock with raised cheekpiece, checkered grip and forearm, sling button fitted to the underside of the butt, a corresponding sling eye is on the central ramrod pipe, and a dark horn cap to the forearm. In oak fitted case lined in tooled pigskin, the lid with John Dickson & Son printed trade label, and with accessories including brass bullet mold, powder flask, patch punch and pots with turned lids.

Barrel retains 98% original browned finish with some minor muzzle rub. Breech retains 98% of its original casehardened finish with crisp engraving. Engraving to lock and furniture crisp throughout. The casehardened finish gone to a dark patina on the lock and standing breech, 90% remaining on the patch box cover. The trigger guard and butt plate retaining 30% original blued finish, the remainder on the trigger guard faded to plum. Stock reoiled, minor handling marks to the toe of the butt, crisp checkering. Case in good condition, some external storage marks, lining with some staining and indentations, accessories generally in good condition. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.