14 ga. British muzzleloader shotgun

[marlinman93]

Not a shotgun guy, but this one interested me as it has "C. GOVE" engraved on each lock plate! Also has his full name engraved on the top rib of this 14ga. muzzleloader shotgun. "CARLOS GOVE DENVER, COL." Gove was the largest gun dealer West of the Mississippi from before the Civil War to the late 1800's when he died.
A very well cared for Damascus barreled shotgun, with all the various metal parts border engraved, and some nice wood. Very classic lightweight stocks and maybe weighs 7 lbs. Made in England, and Birmingham proofed.

[cwtebay]

You know, whenever I see these pieces I am in awe - heated over coke and a blower to beat the barrels into shape, maybe a water wheel for machining propulsion, and a lot of time spent in creating and checkering the stock.
She's a Beaut! I look forward to hearing about your reports of shooting her!!!

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[marlinman93]

You know, whenever I see these pieces I am in awe - heated over coke and a blower to beat the barrels into shape, maybe a water wheel for machining propulsion, and a lot of time spent in creating and checkering the stock.
She's a Beaut! I look forward to hearing about your reports of shooting her!!!

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I think I have everything to shoot it except wads and caps. I have plenty of Swiss 1 1/2fg powder, and #7 1/2 shot. Just need to buy wads, (probably have to use 12ga.) and percussion caps.

[cwtebay]

I think I have everything to shoot it except wads and caps. I have plenty of Swiss 1 1/2fg powder, and #7 1/2 shot. Just need to buy wads, (probably have to use 12ga.) and percussion caps.

I would make my own wads. That's the beauty of a front stuffer! Just make your own everything and go on!

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[Gtrubicon]

That is a find! I’ve been wanting to find on myself!

[toot]

just use the square load. volume to volume, that is what I use in mine. look up load data before you make smoak. it is a beauty.

[toot]

you can get wads for it from track of the wolf I believe.

[pietro]

.

That puppy is in exceptionally good shape, especially considering it's age.

[Rockindaddy]

You have a nice ole' front stuffer. Track of the Wolf has all the odd gauge wads. I was able to get 22ga wads for my double flint gun and wads for my 13 ga Greener and 14 ga wads for a Williams and Powell London double. Even an old 11ga Fisher side by side. Have hunted with all of them!

[marlinman93]

I must have missed the wads at TOTW as I checked and saw nothing for 14ga. shotguns? Went back this morning and just entered "14 gauge" into the search and the wads came up just fine!

Another friend also told me to weigh out a charge of 7/8-1 oz. of shot, and use my old adjustable shotgun measure to pour it in. Then pour the same measure full of my powder and it would be the 50/50 by volume measurement. Sounds pretty foolproof to me.

[cwtebay]

This whole thread makes me want to go out and buy a proper tweed hunting jacket and cap and start smoking a briar wood pipe while waiting for partridge to be driven by me!

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[marlinman93]

Spent this morning taking the shotgun apart to clean it thoroughly. Ran a drill bit into the plugged nipple and it pretty much fell through as the plug seemed to be just dirt. Wiped the bores and they're perfect. Then removed the hammers and cleaned up the action, and hammers, and reassembled it. Wiped down the whole gun with Old West Snake Oil on a rag and it's even prettier than before!
Headed to our monthly Friday night Historical Arms Collectors dinner, and taking it along for show & tell. We have some ML collectors in the group that might get a kick out of seeing it.

[Tatume]

Very nice!

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/170/2

14 gauge, .703" ideal for .693" bore, .025" over shot card, 1000, by Circle Fly Wads
14 gauge, .703" ideal for .693" bore, .125" over powder card, 1000, by Circle Fly Wads
14 gauge, .703" ideal for .693" bore, .500" thick fibre wad, 500, by Circle Fly Wads

[schutzen-jager]

nice find - Gove was also known for converting rolling blocks into lever guns - for the market for his hunting clientele -

[Rockindaddy]

That gun will easily handle 1 1/8 oz for hunting, 1 oz loads for target shooting clay birds. 3 Drams of 2F or 1F (a Dram is 27.5 grs) 82 grs and 1 1/8oz of shot will work great! Drive the 1 oz load with 62grs is good for breaking clay birds. Use a 12 gauge "B" card over the shot as recoil shakes the shot loose in the unfired barrel.

[marlinman93]

nice find - Gove was also known for converting rolling blocks into lever guns - for the market for his hunting clientele -

Yes, I own a gorgeous Gove underlever Rolling Block with a Farrow false muzzle barrel.

[marlinman93]

That gun will easily handle 1 1/8 oz for hunting, 1 oz loads for target shooting clay birds. 3 Drams of 2F or 1F (a Dram is 27.5 grs) 82 grs and 1 1/8oz of shot will work great! Drive the 1 oz load with 62grs is good for breaking clay birds. Use a 12 gauge "B" card over the shot as recoil shakes the shot loose in the unfired barrel.

Thanks! Good tip on the 12ga. card over the shot! Just need to find some caps now!