William Kirchberg of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, c. 1840s is recorded as a maker of muzzleloading, needle-fire shotguns as well as more conventional percussion firearms. This shotgun or another of nearly identical construction appears in Kimball Arms Company Catalogs (10th Edition as item BX18 and 11th and 12th Editions as item B45) from the 1940s where it is described as a "Rare American double barrel, muzzle-loading, hammerless detonator by William Kirchberg of Philadelphia...Gun is loaded with made-up charges with fulminate in base." The Damascus barrels have alternating twist and banded patterns, "Wm KIRCHBERG IN PHILADELPHIA" in silver on the rib along with floral scroll patterns in silver inlay on the breech section, side mounted cocking levers, and a single bead front sight. The furniture has scroll, floral, and twist patterns along with silver inlaid and bordered vignettes of a bird on the upper tang, another bird at the heel of the buttplate, and a dog on the trigger guard bow. The stock has fine checkering with incised borders. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr

Fine with mostly silver-gray patina on the metal, some areas of brown patina, dark aged patina on the silver inlays, distinct Damascus patterns along the barrels, and minor overall wear. The stock is very good and has some mild wear on the otherwise distinct checkering, general mild scratches and dings, some tiny slivers absent at the edges, and a repair by the breech to the left of the tang. Mechanically fine.