Our Price: sold 

This well constructed, side by side shotgun was assembled and sold by Petersburg, Virginia merchant, William Morgan, Sr. Morgan immigrated to this country in 1816, settling in Petersburg, Virginia where he went into business with his brother, Andrew, in Petersburg; their business, advertised as “Morgan & Brother” commenced operation, just prior to 1850. Both Morgan brothers are listed as gunsmiths in the 1850 and 1860 US census records. The Morgan brothers maintained a hardware store on Sycamore St., in antebellum Petersburg; from this store, they sold a wide range of household goods and tools, as well as guns; in the Petersburg census of 1850, Morgan is listed not only as a gunsmith, but a member of the Petersburg Mechanic Benevolent Association. Like many gunsmiths of the antebellum period, it is presumed that the majority of the guns the Morgans sold were just assembled by them, from European parts; by 1860, an advertisement in the Petersburg Directory, listed William Morgan & Brother as “importers and manufacturers of all kinds of guns, pistols, rifles, &c. at Sycamore Street”.

This shotgun, comparable in construction to other known examples assembled by the Morgans, features William Morgan’s name, engraved in manuscript letters, on the rib between the barrels, as well as the location of Morgan’s business – Petersburg. Some examples have VA after Petersburg, but this one does not. Barrel features two silver bands and is also embellished with a hunting scene. A hunter in the bush with shotgun appears to be shooting over the heads of two hunting dogs at silver inlaid pheasants. The dogs are also inlaid with silver. Unfortunately most the silver inlay of the hunter is missing.

It has been militarized with the addition of a front sight and rear sling swivel. Barrel shortened to 22 1/2 inches which would seem to indicate use by Confederate Cavalry.

This shotgun remains in very good condition – a black powder, side by side, 12 gauge shotgun, it remains mechanically fine, with the exception of the left lock which seems to have a broken main spring. It has a German silver wrist escutcheon, forend and patch box. Patchbox lid appears to have been replaced in its time of use by one of actual silver. Expert wood repair can be seen around the area of the right side lock. 

All of the iron elements of the gun retain a dark, steel gray patina The shotgun has an overall length of 38″, with barrel length of 22 1/2". The barrels still exhibits damascus twist pattern; lock plates, trigger guard and butt plate all have a matching steel gray patina. The bores are dark with some light pitting. The iron lock plates, trigger guard, hammers and butt plate all exhibit simple engraving. The walnut stock is in good condition exhibits numerous dings and dents one might expect on weapon used in the war. The wrist is checkered, and shows significant wear commensurate with the wear on the lock plates. The gun retains what appears to retain its original ramrod. An example of a Morgan shotgun can be seen in the recently released book “Confederate & Southern Agent Marked Shotguns” by Russ Pritchard Jr. and John Ashworth Jr.

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