serial #246, 12 ga. x 38 cal CF, 30'' barrels choked about modified in each, showing about very good bores which show scattered light oxidation and some light pitting, the right tube with a few minor dents, the rifle barrel rates very good with crisp rifling but minor oxidation, it is a straight walled or perhaps long tapered case, with a rim, being .36 cal when measured. The shotgun barrels are a deep pewter gray patina showing remnants of Damascus pattern their full-length, continuing on the rib, the rifle barrel a gunmetal gray. The original front bead is missing and a brass bead has been installed to its rear, there is a silver midrib bead and the rib is engraved with the name of a former owner ''TM Brower'' with a bit of scroll flanking. The frame is a similar tarnished pewter patina with some remnants of silvery case-hardening. It shows nice quality banknote filigree bordering with small sprays of good quality scroll within the border and each frame flat is maker marked. Each lockplate has nice sprays of scroll around the lockplate screw with a gunning dog on point on each, the hammers as well with excellent quality open scroll. There is minor scroll on the belly of the frame as well with a sporting dogs head just ahead of the foremost screw. The checkered round knob pistolgrip English walnut buttstock rates perhaps fair, showing an old light cleaning years ago, repair to a crack completely through the wrist, small chip repairs at the top tang and a crossbolt repair through the pistolgrip with a small chip at the toe which was repaired; a sling swivel was added to the toeline. There was some lovely grain figure present, the checkering pattern very faint; the splinter forend is now nearly smooth and rates perhaps good. The locks are rebounding and seem to operate properly, and the lockup remains tight and on-face; the face of the breech at the rifle barrel shows a fairly concave area at the firing pin hole. The rear sight has been removed and a blank put in its place, barrel and frame are numbered alike. A quick records check does not show a lot of TM Brower's, in fact the only real candidate being Thomas M Brower from North Carolina. Interestingly, or perhaps amusingly, the Oct. 19, 1872 edition of the ''Surry Visitor'' newspaper ran a story which read ''T.M. Brower killed a very large Deer, on Thursday of this week, on Dan River some 14 miles from this place. It was a fine Buck, fat as a stall fed beef.'', he would have been 25 years old at the time of that report. This arm, being the first type Baker Three Barrel would have predated 1881, Mr. Brower did not pass away until 1929 so the timeframe fits well; he would have been 34, certainly an age when he could afford such a gun. (3B9738-2) {ANTIQUE} [Kris Congdon Collection] (1000/1500)
firearm