Antique W. & C. Scott Double Hammer Shotgun 1871 Featherweight

Serial #2359, 12 GA (2 1/2"), 27 inch fine Damascus barrels with light roughness in each tube choked cylinder and cylinder. This is an early W. & C. Scott side by side hammer shotgun marked "W & C. SCOTT & SON. DORSET PLACE PALL MALL. LONDON." manufactured in 1871. This "C" grade light weight shotgun weighing in at 6lbs 10oz making this a slightly heavy "Featherweight" has about 50% scrollwork on the metal surfaces but lacks the game scenes of the higher "B" and "A" grades. These models introduced the top lever action and this has the lever marked "W.&C. SCOTT / & SON PATENT" surrounded by scroll. The side plates are also marked "W. & C. SCOTT / & SON". The gun is in excellent condition with the fine Damascus barrels retaining much of the original pattern still in the brown toning to a pleasant pewter grey and free of any major dents with only tiny use marks and some very small nicks. The frame, side plates and hammers retain perhaps 65-70% of the original vibrant case color with the balance fading to smoky grey with the trigger guard showing about 35-40% of the original high polish blue. The nicely figured checkered walnut stock and forearm are excellent, sporting a blank silver oval name plate and steel butt plate showing numerous light use marks and some very minor wear and flattening of a few points in the still very crisp checkering. The barrel flats have the appropriate British proof marks with the water table having the Purdey's Patent stamp along with the W & C Scott Patent for the action. The only major flaw being the bushing around the firing pin on the left side which is missing about half of the metal. The LOP is 13 ??" to the forward trigger with drops of 1 ?? and 2 ?? at the comb and heel respectively. The barrels are on face with a tight lock up and the lever resting just slightly left of center. The hammers hold on half and full cock and release with a crisp trigger pull. A beautiful, early, W. & C. Scott double hammer shotgun that would be a pleasure to shoot with the proper loads. Antique