welcome to the forum if u could post pictures that would help

 

if u look up w.h. mortimer there is some news there

 

more pics

 

Hi, I love the shotgun. In fact, I'm looking into buying one right now. I found on Guns America's web site a Mortimer SxS 12 ga. muzzleloader with 31"Damascus barrels (ZERO RUST) for 1250.00. It is im great condition. I was wondering if you had yours appraised & if you'd share that info? If anyone has any info or experience with 1860'-1880's Mortimer shotguns Please post a reply. Thanks so much. And you were correct in your comment about this being an awesome group here. I'm seeing that as well & am also a grateful new member. Kind regards & KEEP SHOOTING Y'ALL

 

more

 

last ones

 

There is confusing information on gun makers with the name MORTIMER. It seem that there was a family located in Scotland by the name Mortimer that made shotguns. Your gun appears to have percussion hammers and an illustration in my reference shows locks made by a maker named Kirkwood & Mortimer who was located in Boston in the late 1800s. The Mortimer portion of the company immigrated from Scotland to Boston in the 1860s

 

A nice percussion shotgun but probably from 1850s-1870s era and the Scottish Mortimers appear to have left London before then.

Also, markings limited to last name only, with no first name or initial or street address suggest an anonymous maker or retailer trading on the well known Mortimer name.

There should be markings hidden on underside of barrels that might help identify and date your gun:

To remove the barrels, remove the ramrod and tap out the flat cross key in forestock. Place the hammers on half cock (first click) and gently raise the front of barrels, which will be hooked into the breech at rear.

 

My source shows a Thomas Elsworth Mortimer in London 1825-1851, which would be the right era. He was likely the son of Jackson Mortimer. Thomas Elsworth was at 34 St. James St. and later at 97 George St., London, and also had a branch in Edinburgh.

As with many of the "London" makers, the real origin of the guns is in doubt; often the guns were actually made in Birmingham or some other place where labor costs were low, and the prestigious London address used as a retail store.

The gun appears to be a good (though not top) quality, so I doubt it is the product of some low quality maker (Belgian or American) trading on the Mortimer name, but a look at the bottom of the barrels will settle that question.

Jim

 

My source shows a Thomas Elsworth Mortimer in London 1825-1851, which would be the right era. He was likely the son of Jackson Mortimer. Thomas Elsworth was at 34 St. James St. and later at 97 George St., London, and also had a branch in Edinburgh.

As with many of the "London" makers, the real origin of the guns is in doubt; often the guns were actually made in Birmingham or some other place where labor costs were low, and the prestigious London address used as a retail store.

The gun appears to be a good (though not top) quality, so I doubt it is the product of some low quality maker (Belgian or American) trading on the Mortimer name, but a look at the bottom of the barrels will settle that question.

Jim

So, do I need to remove the barrels to see the area of interest on the bottom? Because currently (all assembled) there is no other inscriptions?

Thanks for all the advice.. This is a great site and you guys are very helpful.

 

got it apart... There are some "14"'s and some symbols that we are trying to determine what they are.. But no letters at all.. just a bunch of "14"'s and some syymbols

Any idea??

 

OK, got out my jewler's loop...

Looks like a few symbols with some letters.. These are VERY small..Not sure a pic would do anything.(working on that)

It looks like there are several what looks to be two swords that are crossed to form an "X" and MAYBE a crown above the "X"

ONLY On 2 of the 6 crossed swords there looks to be a "B" on the left and a "C" on the right side of the "X" (crossed swords)

Then there are 2 other symbols that appear to be an incursive "B" and "P" tied together incursively... Very odd..

I will attach some pics that hopefully you guys can make sense of...

 

here are some photos

 

nice pictures i am sure someone will answer

 

It would be a good idea to take ramrod and check that it will go full depth of barrel. A lot of precussion shotguns were loaded and left without cap on nipples. (Don't ask how I know this)

 

wait till tomorrow i am sure u will get an answer unless Jack comes on

 

here are some photos

Those are post-1855 Birmingham England proofmarks and the 14's is the gauge.

 

Crown over crossed scepters with B P C

English definitive black powder proof (Birmingham) 1813-1904


Crown over crossed scepters with a V

English inspection mark (Birmingham) 1813-1904

Crown over what looks like script BP

English provisional black powder proof (Birmingham) since 1856

 

Crown over crossed scepters with B P C

English definitive black powder proof (Birmingham) 1813-1904

Crown over crossed scepters with a V

English inspection mark (Birmingham) 1813-1904

Crown over what looks like script BP

English provisional black powder proof (Birmingham) since 1856

OK, so, I have all three of these markings...

So, how do you tell what year it actually was made?

What would the value be on this gun?? any idea?

 

So, how do you tell what year it actually was made?

What would the value be on this gun?? any idea?

There is no way to identify when made more specifically than circa 1856-1870s.

Yours is a shade above the usual decorator and my WAG would be $350-$400 range.

 

Welcome to The Firearms Forum Ninering. You have opened a seven year old thread. You really need to start a new thread of your own to ask your questions or make comments.