Royal Diana Pieper shotgun

[Stepmac]

Do you remember the old TV show, "Mr. Peepers"? Well, I have his shotgun. The show starred Walley Cox, who happened to be Marlin Brando's best friend. The shotgun that I have is an Henri Pieper. You can call it a Peeper if you want. It is a double barrel hammergun made in Beligum, maybe in the 1890s, maybe later. Henri passed in about 1898. His family took the company over and ran it until the late 50s. I wish I could post pictures on this site like I used to do. The gun has a monoblock breech. Sellor said it is a 2.3/4" gun, but I'm not sure. Solid steel barrels. Very pretty wood, rubber butt pad. Not heavy. Barrels just shy of 28". Mint all over. Perfect bores. Strange maker, but they have been around for some time. They imported cheaper models in the Old West. Some say Big Nosed Kate provided a Pieper to Doc Holliday to use at the OK Corral. An interesting gun and a pretty thing.

[Dean Romig]

Here…

[Drew Hause]

"Diana" refers to the Pieper patent monobloc barrels
"Original Diana" the tubes were inserted from the rear of the breech with a significant step. The guns usually had a steel breech with pattern welded tubes.



The "Modified Diana" the tube were inserted from the front with no step.



Pieper added other names to the "Diana" guns, and also used Royal Gun Works (and a bunch more) as a tradename
This is an old thread but fortunately most of the images remain
https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubb...27249&page=all

With a close up of every mark on the barrel flats and just forward of the flats we could provide more information

[Stepmac]

Thank you gentlemen. My gun is marked Royal Diana on the barrel rib and no gold. While it is reported that most piepers where cheap, but my gun looks fantastic and is probably the highest quality gun that I own..of about a dozen. The monoblock is stepped, as you said, some are not. Not demascus. Gun looks nearly new. All blue. If it is, is it a 2-3/4 gun? I'm going to have to order a gauge to measure the chamber..on other guns too. It's a lithe gun...light and quick. Ivory bead. Lots of nice engraving. Hammers. Tight springs. Reported to be full and IC. Wish I could post pictures.