Guns International #: 102731677
Seller's Inventory #: BP21-85
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Guns International #: 102731677
Category - Antique Rifles - Percussion
- Antique Rifles - Single Shot
1830's - 1840's Antique British-Mfg. "Day's Patent" Underhammer Percussion Cane Gun in .58 Caliber
** Scarce **
Description: This is a very interesting and antique British-manufacture Day's Patent Underhammer Percussion Cane Gun in .58 Caliber. Manufactured sometime during the 1830's to 1840's, this was a good self-defense weapon for a gentleman who needed or wanted the aid of a cane, but also wanted to have some portable firepower that was concealed. First patented in 1823 by John Day in England and called the "Day's Patent Ignition, it is the VERY FIRST British patent known to mention copper percussion caps, and is considered by many to the be the first percussion-ignition gun anywhere! It is quite remarkable that the very first percussion-fired gun is actually a cane rather then a purpose built pistol or musket. These canes were designed and built to be sturdy-enough to support the weight of a man, strong enough to be swung as a club, and built with steel capable of handling the pressures of repeated firing of black-powder loads. It eliminated the need to carry a seperate gun in your pocket or belt, which generally meant that the gun would have to be small in both size and caliber to be concealed in the relatively close-fitting attire of that time period. The small self-defense pistols of the day were almost all underpowered and thus lacked good stopping-power. The larger bore pistols and revolvers with good power were almost always very large and heavy, mainly due to the steel used in their construction being much, much weaker and more brittle than even the steel that was made just 10 to 15 years later. This meant that any part of the weapon that was exposed to the pressures generated from firing had to be exceedingly thick to prevent ruptures, stretching, and stress cracks. The ammunition for both the large and small handguns of the period generally consisted of either a solid lead round ball or a conical solid lead bullet. In larger calibers this translated to heavy projectiles that made for heavy recoil when in small weapons. This cane gun was a much different animal than the hand or shoulder-fired weapons of the period, as almost everything built during the same period as this was cane gun was still using a flintlock ignition system. This cane gun features a .58 caliber smooth-bore barrel 27.75" inches in length, a folding trigger and hammer that tucked into the main body of the cane when not being used, a wooden handle, a percussion cap ignition with a nipple hidden under the folded-flat hammer, and two types of removeable tips to keep the barrel free of obstructions. One style of tip was thin, disposable/replaceable, and could be left on and shot-thru without damaging the barrel. The other type known was actually a combination tip and ramrod for reloading. It was a friction-fit piece with the cane tip on one side, and a ramrod protruding from the other. This style of ramrod-tip HAD to be removed before firing, or it would destroy the gun. But attaching a ramrod to the removable tip was a great idea, it kept the ramrod hidden and protected within the barrel at all times when it was not being fired. This particular example does not have a tip with it, likely lost a long time ago. This cane gun could be loaded with a single patched lead round ball, or various-sized loads of shot of any size, from buck to birdshot, or a combo buck & ball load consisting of several buckshot ranging in size from .30 to .44 caliber packed within a quantity of much smaller shot, typically of the size used for small game and wingshooting. The buck and ball load was devastating to anyone or anything being hit by it, particularly when the target was within arm's reach up to about 20-25 yards. The dispersion of the shot loads greatly improved the odds of the user hitting the assailant or target, as the sights on this cane are pretty worthless for the most part. This was a point and shoot type of weapon, the closer the attacker the better the odds of hitting them. While these cane guns would never become extremely popular, they coninued to be produced for decades more, with the American company Remington producting a number of models that used metallic cartridges. Ultimately, a 1934 law that made possesing a gun that looks like something else all but ended cane gun production in the U.S.. This Day's Patent cane gun has an overall length of just over 34.25" inches with a barrel length of 27.75" inches. The hardwood handle on this example is an older homemade-replacement, likely replaced sometime in the last 50 years by our estimation. This cane gun is well-marked with British proofs and still has the original "Day's Patent" plaque affixed just behind the trigger. The firing mechanism doesnt function properly due to a broken hammer spring and potentially some other broken parts. With that said, the hammer and trigger do stay folded-up when put into position, and both parts do drop-down together when the hammer is cocked back, they just feel like they are attached to a very weak spring or pair of springs. Once cocked, you can squeeze the trigger and the hammer does drop, but slowly and without much power at all. This is strictly a display piece, but a very cool one at that. Would be a great candidate for a full restoration or left as-is for a great decorator / conversation piece. As this is antique and a black powder percussion weapon, it can be shipped directly to the purchaser's home, with no FFL transfer needed. Price: $695.00 Curio/Relic: Yes Antique: Yes Rifle Caliber: .58 Manufacturer: British Model: Day's Patent Cane Gun Barrel Length: 27.75" Inches Action: Single-Shot Cap & Ball/Shot Finish: Painted Manufacture Date: 1830-1840's Contact Seller |
Guns International #: 102731677
Seller's Inventory #: BP21-85
Guns International #: 102731677
Seller's Inventory #: BP21-85