Bird'seye Butt - Percussion Cane Gun:

May I repeat my all time favorite joke?

Have you heard about the agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac? - He lay awake all night wondering if there really was a Dog ..

I'm going to be first to say that I don't know what I'm talking about herein.

But - I bought this antique piece for several reasons ..

1/- I fell totally in love with her 'bird's eye' butt. 

Luverly - I'm calling that 'BIRDS EYE' Maple? - maybe.

2/- I have never owned an UNDERHAMMER gun before.

3/- For dogssake - it's a walking stick CANE GUN.

Now, I read, that Underhammer Guns were an American thing .. If so, this old lady was likely made there mid 19th century and the butt may well be Bird's Eye Maple? (Acer Saccharum). Dunno.

I HAD to jump on the 'Buy Now' Button and sure .. I paid too much as usual - But I own it. - And typically .. I've now ordered from AbeBooks (USA), used, THE book 'Underhammer Guns' after I bought the antique gun!

I have removed a lot of active surface rust and done the Oil of Wintergreen thing

Barrel is 28 3/4 inches - 'Smooth Bore' (rough-as) measures .530 inch at the muzzle .. vendor describes "Birdybutt" as a "wonderful example of a rare shotgun".

AI says Standard walking canes are 37 inches .. this gun is 34 1/2 inches assembled for a stroll with rubber tip and action palm-grip, - and 46 inches butt-attached, tumescent & ready to go. - Seems I could use an extra four inches .. but nobody's complained, within my hearing range anyway.

NO half-cock notch or 'bent'. - Trigger pull LIGHT @ 1 pound.

That's how it clips together - As a Gentleman you walked around with the stock in your coat pocket until you spied a pheasant or a peasant.

I dunno - but the white metal buttplate with engraved tang had some sort of brownish shellac/varnish that I cleaned off and it looks great now - What metal do you reckon?

The earliest recorded 'underhammer' dates from 1740 in Germany - Yes .. a Flintlock Underhammer.

_______________

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. - How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Marty K.