Reverend Alexander Forsyth was instrumental in the development of use of fulminate of mercury as a replacement for black powder as an ignition source and is generally considered to be the inventor of the percussion ignition system. This shotgun has a second model roller primer. The matching serial number "421" is marked on the barrel, lock, and primer. The barrel also has London proofs and another unclear marking on the bottom, a small silver blade front sight, "FORSYTH & Co PATENT GUN MAKERS LONDON" signed on top, a short sighting flat, and gold bands on the breech plug. The standing breech has scroll, floral, and shell engraving. The primer has "FORSYTH & CO/PATENT" on the front and "R" on the slider. The lock is marked "FORSYTH & Co/PATENT" and has a dog with a bird on the tail, burst patterns, and border engraving. The squareback trigger guard has a brace of pheasants on the bow and another on the grip extension, and the trigger plate has a pineapple finial. The buttplate has another bird and floral patterns. The forend cap, wedge escutcheons, and wrist escutcheon are silver. The stock has a checkered wrist, attractive cheekpiece, and nice figure. This gun is not listed, but 423 from c. 1811 is listed on page 37 of "Forsyth & Co.: Patent Gunmakers" by Neal and Back as another single barrel 16 bore shotgun with a roller primer. Also see no. 410 in figures 2, 13, 14, 57, and 58 and detailed on page 37 from W. Keith Neal's collection which has similar details such as, "There are two gold bands at the breech" and "The barrel is round, apart from a short flat on the top at the breech end." The engraving on the lock is similar to the pattern in figure 18.

Very good with light brown patina on the refinished barrel and furniture, Damascus patterns along the barrel, recut markings/engraving, bright gold inlay, refinished blue/case colors on the lock and primer, absent primer cap, and minor overall wear. The stock is also very good and has crisp engraving, repair above the nose of the lock, light dings and scratches, and minor overall wear. Mechanically excellent.