Gun number 4 is at least a Grade 2 judging by the blank space in the wood around the forend latch before the checkering begins.





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Possibility of Red and White Irish Setter.

I agree that the first three dogs appear to be English Setters, but because of its muzzle, ears and expression of the dog on the right, tells me that there's some English Springer Spaniel close up in its lineage.

If we put the dog on the right up against a nasty Chesapeake Bay Retriever, I would put my money on that brown setter.

Odd, their style of having only the top button of their hunting coats fastened.

When I was kid, I remember a lot of the old guys hunting that way when it was warm. I always assumed they had so much in all the pockets, the coat flapped around and pulled on them too much is left to hang free.

Maybe the Victorian version of "pants down below the crack". Seriously though, it's a great picture.

Thanks for all the comments. As promised I removed the wood back, and found the following on the back of the picture:

Logo - Forshew, Photographer, Hudson, N.Y.

Hand writing - Messrs Kerby

Per a internet reference on the Hudson River Vally, Francis “Frank” Forshew was a prolific photographer in upstate New York in the last half of the 19th century. I also took the opportunity to check out a couple areas of interest in the image, particularly shotgun #2. The lifter has a cap on it, and it’s clearly attached to the shotgun. I’m surprised how clear the image is outside the frame. And I really love the faces on all the dogs!

So, if you have a 19th century hammer gun attributed to a Mr. Kerby, it may be one of two in this pic!

That is very cool!

As for the buttoning of the top button only, that was a common practice at one time. For those of us who are fans of Gordon MacQuarrie, we know that "Mr. President" always wore his old brown mackinaw buttoned only at the top.

I hope someone has that lifter. Stranger things have happened.

I thought I ws correct about that lifter because it looks so much like the 1874 I have. Those guys all look like they couldn't button those coats and sit down. A lot of the older guys I mentioned wearing their coats like that in the early fifties had probably bought them in the 20's and were still wearing the same one.

I hadn't paid attention to the men, but after knowing they were likely related, I think they do have a familial appearance. The two on the left almost could be twins, and their features appear to be consistent to their surname roots.