The makers records confirm this gun was ordered by Charles Gordon on 25 October 1883 and remains in apparently unfired condition. Gordon ordered a total of five double barrel 8 gauge percussion guns from Dicksons, with this being the first. With browned fine Damascus barrels signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON. 63 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH” on the raised concave rib and with bead front sight. Casehardened patent breeches finely engraved with scrollwork on the rib and each with pierced platinum plug engraved with a rosette. The underside of the barrels struck with London black powder proof marks and the original brass mounted ramrod held in place by three ramrod pipes. Casehardened standing breech with long tang and back action locks each signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON” and with “Antediluvian” hammer with blued detachable nose. Furniture comprising blued trigger guard and checkered butt plate, and casehardened trigger plate, barrel cross bolt key escutcheons and forearm finial. The whole finely engraved with tight scrollwork. Nicely figured stock with checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt inset with a blank silver initial escutcheon. In original brass cornered oak fitted case lined in tooled pigskin, the lid with John Dickson & Son leather trade label with gilt lettering, and a full suite of accessories including brass topped Hawksley powder flask with nozzle graduated from “4” to “6” drams of powder and with pigskin covered body, Hawksley shot flask with pig skin bag and casehardened top graduated from “1 1/2” to “2” ounces of shot, a large Hawksley oil bottle, wad cutting punch, white metal Bartram circular percussion cap dispenser and various turnscrews and cleaning tools. Please see Donald Dallas, “Charles Gordon Magnificent Madness”, pp. 43-45 where this gun is discussed and illustrated. This gun is also the subject of an online “The Explora” article by Anthony Alborough-Tregear (Trigger) of Westley Richards, April 19, 2017. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

In incredible original condition. The barrels retain nearly all of the original browned finish, the breeches nearly all of the original casehardened finish. The standing breech and back action locks again with nearly all of the original casehardened finish, perhaps the slightest loss to finish from handling around the back of the locks. The bluing on the trigger guard has flaked leaving around 60% remaining. The butt plate has fared better and retains around 95% original blued finish with some rubbing around the edges. Stock has nice figure, well defined checkering, and only minor handling blemishes. The case and accessories are in similar magnificent condition. Mechanically excellent.