Mike Slater

UK

Mike writes....

"What a revelation, I have owned this 1830s single barrelled percussion shotgun for 45 years without realising its history.

 It was upon reading your history of Perrins that I thought it might be even more interesting as I could just make out 'Pe' on the side plate although I realise only this much evidence is not ultimate proof.

The Peyton Shotgun, Family Crest, Patior Potior
‘I suffer I obtain’
It is probable that this early lower quality, single barrel, 12 bore percussion muzzle
loader was manufactured in the1830 -1855 era of gun design.
The small finely engraved almost indecipherable name on the action side plate appears
to be Perrins.
The gun has two silver escutcheons, possibly being inlaid some time after the gun’s
original manufacture . One is engraved with the family crest of the old English family
name Peyton, the other with the initials EB.
The shotgun had belonged to the Peyton family who lived at the prestigious Barton Court
Colwall Herefordshire from 1815 until the 1900s.
The later ownership of the shotgun originated from the sale and dispersal by auction of
Barton Court and the Colwall Park Estate at the Star Hotel in Worcester in 1919.
In all 1100 acres, ten large farms, 30 small holdings, numerous cottages, goods and
assets were sold off.
The gun remained with one farm in particular, where it resided unused in damp barns,
mostly outdoors for another 50 years until in1970 I noticed it minus ramrod propping
closed a barn door.
In a very poor condition it was offered to me by its owner, - “If I wanted it” !.
At that time I was informed that it was a ‘Pollards’ gun, but by its design and function as
an early percussion muzzle loader I presume it was either manufactured or refinished and
sold by Perrins Gunmakers of Worcester in the1830s well before Pollard took over the
Perrins business in 1892.
With minimal refurbishment this 180 year old gun looks fairly original and is usable.