This is a Confederate used Double Barrel percussion shotgun that was imported by well-known gunmaker and dealer, Samuel Sutherland of Richmond, Virginia.  According to P. 266 of  "Confederate Arms" by Albaugh and Simmons, Sutherland was known as "The Armorer of the South" who operated under the trade name "Southern Importing House".   During the Civil War, Sutherland also repaired weapons, altered flintlock muskets to percussion ignition systems, and bored sporting rifles to military calibers both for the State of Virginia and the Confederacy. 

This particular shotgun is clearly marked "S. Sutherland Richmond VA along the top side of each lock plate. The barrels have been reduced for use on horseback.  As many of you know, the double barrel shotgun was a particular favorite of Confederate Cavalrymen for fighting on horseback in close contact with the enemy. Judging from the overall wear of this example, which shows as much as any Enfield rifle or Springfield musket, it looks like it saw just about every day of the Civil War and then some.  Overall, its in NRA Antique Fair+ to Good condition having seen a great deal of handling along with a few repairs.  Metal is a smooth brown patina with little to no pitting.  Furniture is almost completely iron mounted with light scroll engraving that is very worn in places.  Stock is made of well-figured walnut with a checkered wrist...also worn.  As found on many Civil War rifles, there is even some burnout or spark erosion to the top of the stock just behind the breech. Top of buttplate tang is stamped with a small number, possibly "188".  Mechanically, the action is worn in pretty good like its been fired thousands of times.  Nonetheless, both hammers still work faithfully on both full and half cock.  When we found it, the wood was broken through the area of the lockplate and the ramrod was missing.  These two issues have since been corrected with the stock now solid and back in one piece again and a new hickory ramrod added.   Bottom of the stock has a small compartment for storing percussion caps.  A very experienced and colorful example of a Southern-imported and Confederate-used shotgun!

Item# 0880

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