Dating to the third quarter of the 19th century, with browned Damascus barrels with concave rib fitted with a bead front sight and signed “THORNTON & SONS. LONDON”. Casehardened patent breeches each engraved with a narrow band of stylized running foliage and fitted with a pierced platinum plug, the rib section engraved with scrollwork and inlaid with two gold lines. The underside of the barrels marked “STUB DAMASCUS” and with Birmingham proof marks, stamped “H. HART GUN MAKER BIRMINGHAM” and most unusually with powder and shot load data. This data reads between the two barrels as follows "Excellent shooting qualities with Drams of powder & ounce of shots", these marks go on to list powder/shot charges beginning with 2 1/2 drams of powder with 1 ounce of hot through to 3 1/2 drams of powder with 1 1/4 ounces of shot. Casehardened grooved standing breech, bar-in-wood side locks and furniture including trigger plate with large pineapple finial all with fine border and scroll engraving. The locks are each signed “THORNTON & SONS”. Well-figured walnut straight hand half-length stock with checkered grip and forearm, the wrist inset with a blank silver shield shaped initial escutcheon. Brass mounted ramrod with worm. In brass bound fitted mahogany case lined in green baize with some accessories, including Hawksley powder flask, a leather shot flask, an Eley Bros. cap tin and a key for the case. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection