[Elk Hunter]

Not all fine shotguns have two barrels.

My most recent bird gun is a truly American long fowler. I believe it was built circa the late 1830's to the early 1840's . It's marked J. Hapgood Shrewsbury when I first saw pictures I thought it was English but the brass furniture says America. Bore is .551 aka 28 gauge, weight is 8 1/2 lbs. and does not have any sign of a rear sight. J. Hapgood worked in Shrewsbury, Mass and had a sporting goods store in Boston in 1846. The lock I believe is a replacement as it is of lesser quality than the rest of the gun and Hapgood reportedly made all his own parts. The lock is marked "Lane & Read", they sold gun parts starting in 1820. I believe the finish is original as the markings are crisp and the cross hatch checkering with stamped in rosettes is sharp.

I hope to shoot it soon. Can't wait to try it on a grouse or maybe chuckar's.