Built in circa 1891, with browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end and with concave rib fitted with a bead front sight, signed “JOSEPH HARKOM & SON. 30 GEORGE STREET. EDINBURGH”, engraved with a spray of scrollwork at the breech end and numbered “1”. Casehardened patent breeches each with pierced platinum plug, profusely engraved with scrollwork and with blued percussion nipple. Barrels struck with London black powder proof marks. Casehardened standing breech and back action locks each signed “J. HARKOM & SON”. Furniture including casehardened trigger plate, and blued trigger guard and heel plate. Fine border and scroll engraving throughout with the locks, bow of the trigger guard and tang of butt plate engraved with fine vignettes of game birds. Well-figured straight hand half-stock with checkered grip, the underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon. Brass mounted ramrod with worm.

As with “A”. The rib numbered “2”. In original brass bound oak two tier case lined in dark green baize with near full suite of close fitted accessories, the stocks and actions housed in the lower level and the barrels and most small accessories housed in the lift out tray. The accessories include two leather covered brass topped powder flasks and two Hawksley leather shot flasks each with casehardened top. Please see Donald Dallas, “Charles Gordon, Magnificent Madness”, pp. 82-85 where this pair of guns is described, discussed and illustrated. Provenance: The Charles Gordon Collection; The Malcolm King Collection