Patented in 1865, this shotgun uses a spring loaded break lever that runs forward along the underside of the barrel and simultaneously disengages a hinged locking block concealed inside the frame while pushing the hammers up to the half-cock position and automatically shifting back the firing pins. This arrangement greatly reduces the risk of accidental discharge on closure, both from the operator leaving the hammers down in error or a firing pin being lodged in the forward position. The barrels are equipped with a single brass bead sight, cylinder chokes, extractor and 2 1/2 inch chambers, with "JOSEPH NEEDHAM. PATENTEE. 26. PICCADILLY. LONDON." on the rib, light border engraving on the breech, and a set of London Proof House stamps on the underside. Additional London "V" stamps are present on the water table along with "NEEDHAM'S/PATENT/LONDON" on an interior lug. Over 90% of the exterior frame and locks is covered with engraving, primarily English scroll designs, with scroll borders, floral screws, and "J. NEEDHAM'S PATENT" on each lock plate. Similar engraving is also present on the trigger guard, lower tang, and hammers. The floral and scroll engraved nitre blue break lever is installed on the right side of the frame. The checkered straight wrist stock is configured to resemble a classic one-piece percussion gun stock with a concealed hinge securing the splinter forearm to the buttstock and the checkering finely cut across the seam, with an engraved wedge and wedge escutcheons, horn Schnabel tip, teardrop accents on the side flats, and a flat blued steel buttplate with floral and scroll decoration. Length of pull is 15 inches, with a 3 pound 10.8 ounce barrel and a 3 pound 5.8 ounce lock/stock assembly. It comes in a brass reinforced hardwood case fitted with a "GPW" initialed lid plaque, lined with blue felt on the interior and bearing the Needham & Company merchant label inside the lid. Also included in the case is a three-piece hardwood cleaning rod, pewter oiler, barrel mop, two wire brushes and a pull-through cleaner with an attached oiler.

Excellent. The barrels retain 98% of the original Damascus brown with a few light scratches and handling marks overall. The frame and lock plates show 99% vivid case colors with some fading to brown on the edges and on the lower tang with 90% plus nitre blue on the break lever and 95% high polish nitre blue on the trigger guard. The wood is also excellent with sharply cut checkering, a few mild dings and pressure dents, and the buttplate retains 90% bright nitre blue and sits a bit proud at the toe. Missing a forend piece of possibly ebony. The case is very fine, with some mild cracking on the exterior, a few small holes worn through the felt on the inside, and mild scuffs and stains overall. Mechanically excellent.