doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com SxS muzzle loading shotgun

This shotgun has been offered to me because the owner knows I collect old 1800's single shot rifles, and had mentioned the name Carlos Gove to him. The shotgun is a side by side muzzleloader, and the sideplates are marked "C. Gove" and the top rib is marked "Carlos Gove Denver Col". Next to that the marking "Stub Twist" on the rib.
No idea as to who the maker might be, or whether it was simply sold from Gove's Denver shop, or if he bought barrels and locks, and assembled it in his shop?
Wondering if anybody might be able to identify the shotgun, or parts used on it from these images I got?

If you can unhook the barrels from the breech and show us photos of the Proof marks we could hopefully tell you about it# origins

From what I see in the pics you provided it looks for all the world like a 16 ga. Powell double percussion I used to have, and used on doves and quail. But, I never found out anything about it, either.

Manufacuring SXS shotguns is a highly specialized skill, requiring special tools, equipment and training. I doubt that there were any SXS s-guns made in the US before the late 1800's when the large companies began manufacturing them after the cartridge craze had caught on. Many gun smiths imported guns from England and had their name engraved on them, or engraved it their self. I'm betting you will find English proof marks on the bottom of the barrels. With the Cove name it should bring a slight premium to collectors of western memorabilia....LK

Thanks LK, that's sort of what I figured also. Made for Carlos Gove and his info engraved on the parts prior to shipping to him.
I agreed to buy this ML shotgun as the Gove connection interested me and the price was modest (I think). It wont get here for probably a week to 10 days, but then I'll break it down to check proof marks and post what I find. I don't collect shotguns, but have other guns connected to Carlos Gove's Denver Armory, so it will find a place here.

Vall

Anything that was made for or by Gove is definitely interesting and collectable. I'd love to have one of his modified rollers.

That is what Oliver Winchester did up into the 1880s- imported side by side shotguns from Great Britain and sold them under the Winchester name. He was more concerned about producing Winchester rifles during the 1870s and 1880s.

I had a “C Gove and Son Denver Colo” 10ga breech opener for a while. The “& Son” mark began in 1876 and was only for a couple years. It was made by WC Scott on the Purdey second model thumb opener patent. Cool gun with a great name, but at 9+ pounds it was not an upland gun so it went down the road.

Interesting info! I didn't realize his business ever used the "& Son" on it? I have other Gove, Schoyen, and AW Peterson rifles but my other Gove stuff is just C. Gove Denver, Co. marked.
I have one of the Gove underlever conversion Rolling Blocks. It's been fully restored and has a 12 groove Farrow false muzzle barrel. A great shooter, and as much as I love Rolling Blocks the lever is a huge improvement over the thumb spurs.



Once I have this in hand I'll double check the barrel markings. He told me today it has Birmingham proof marks and he thinks it's a 14 ga.? But he's getting info off Facebook, so I take it with a grain of salt.

Vall, most gun enthusiasts haven't a clue what a false muzzle is. I have a new, unused, octagon barrel in my shop that I ordered, custom made, some 30 years ago to build a competition rifle with. It has a beautiful false muzzle. After I got it my keen eyesight waned and I lost interest in iron sight m/l competition. The barrel is perfect but, alas, there is no demand for such anymore.

C. Gove name is worth more than the actual sxs.
Looks to be a low grade sxs, no blowout plugs, laminated twist barrels, min engraving and locks. I’d bet hammers checkering is stamped and not cut (usually another quality indicator).
Probably Belgium made and Gove imported as others have indicated.
Just the name is worth owning.
I saw this posted on FB a few weeks ago.
Thanks

There is still some demand and maybe even growing slightly in the right calibers and twists. Just gotta travel in the right circles.

I built a gun around a custom Bobby Hoyt barrel with Pope rifling. It has won a few matches. There are very few people who will build a false muzzle barrel these days.

Wow!! Beautiful!!

I think the average gun enthusiast doesn't know or can't understand how a rifle can take a cartridge, but ML a bullet. I know if I'm out at the gun club shooting them it always gets some weird looks, and lots of questions.
I own false muzzle Ballards with barrels by Schoyen and Pope, and it's a lot more work than breech seating a bullet, or just dropping a cartridge in the chamber. But it's also fun to do occasionally, but not during a match.
My false muzzle underlever Rolling Block actually was purchased from the same seller who is selling me this Gove shotgun. I know the shotgun isn't special itself, but the Carlos Gove connection makes it worth owning, and the price wasn't too bad.

Thanks. Whoever did the restoration did wonderful work. I prefer non restored guns, but can't always be too picky. The set trigger screw was frozen up when I got it, and snapped trying to free it up. Fortunately it's a factory single set, so I was able to order the screw once I got the stub out of the trigger.

The shotgun arrived today!
Carlos Gove Denver, Col. marked 14 ga. muzzleloader shotgun too! Birmingham proofed, so made in England, but sold through Gove's shop.

Nice!!!! Good score!!

I think your 14 gauge is a higher quality gun than you suggest. Look at the classic buttstock, in modern dimensions. This gun shows the care Carlos showed in building, and in this case purchasing, finely designed rifles and shotguns. Tell us about the bores and nipples. That would be what makes this a great shooter.

The bores look excellent, but the left nipple is blocked, so I need to try to open that up. Right nipple is clear as a small wire slid right in it, and I can blow through the hole. Don't want to attempt to remove the nipple just in case, so I'll try to clear it with a small bit in my hand held chuck and not using any power tools.

I too think this is an above low quality shotgun. All the metal is border engraved, and the various pieces extremely well fitted. Wrap around checkering is stunning, with no over runs, or damage. Someone cared for this gun well. I hope to find a takedown case that will handle the 32.5" long barrels and action. It would just be nice to have a good case for it too.

I shoot 14 gauge components from Circle Fly in my 15 gauge MH Blood ML. My gun was made in Memphis, TN with Osborne barrels. It's a left handed SxS restored for me by MV Highsmith late of Memphis.

Picked up some percussion caps cheap at our collector gun show this morning. I saw Track of the Wolf has 14ga. wads and shot cards, so I'll order those, even if I only shoot it a little bit.
A friend at the gun show picked it up
today and immediately said, "Man that shotgun has a lot of cast off!"
I picked it up and looked down the stock, and darned if it sure does! Never even noticed it before?