doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com J. Forsyth guestions and odd damascus pics

I was hoping someone could provide me with some information on this maker. The sidelocks are engraved with J. Forsyth, the rib with the name and Bedford St. London. It has external hammers, non rebounding locks, 12 gauge, Birmingham black powder proof marks, and is stamped choke on both barrels. It has a very strange damascus pattern. Both barrels have a fairly tight, even scroll from the muzzle to about 6" from the breech. The pattern starts to stretch out until it almost falls apart. I've heard of using a tighter pattern at the breeches but not the other way around. Is this common? Would anyone be able to tell me anything about this maker? The gun is in very good shape and doesn't look to have been shot much. Perhaps the damascus pattern frightened them. Thank you.

Northern Bob:

That's a neat pattern & find. I believe revdocdrew would refer to it as an anomaly(?). Rev. Alexander James Forsyth, a Scottish clergyman, invented the 1st detonating lock(1807) which by percussion exploded the fulminate which ended the reign of the flintlock. He dates much earlier(1768-1843) than your gun and was 1 of 3 who in 1809 founded the Alexander Forsyth & Company w/ James Brougham & C.B. Uther from 10 Piccadilly. Later when the firm changed names to Forsyth Patent Gun Company and around 1816, Forsyth and Brougham left. The firm attended the 1851 Exhibition but stopped shortly after the event.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Interesting Bob, and thanks for posting.
It's a lower quality 2 Iron "Horse-shoe" Crolle pattern with a section of the ribband at the right breech that wasn't twisted, and the left with only a few twists. The breech section 'lopin' or billet started out as alternating thin plates of 3 iron and 3 steel with a thicker 'bloom' of mixed steel and iron in between.
Never seen anything like it, and will be adding it to the 'Damascus Anomalies' PictureTrail album

There was a lack of control when the billet was being twisted. This in no way indicates a problem with barrel.

Pete

Thank you for the information. Any idea if J. was related to to A.J. Forsyth? It doesn't seem to be too high of quality, though not bad and in good shape. It is odd that the pattern is so uniform from the muzzle back and so messed up at the breech. It is almost like it was intentional, but I'm suppose that shooters of the time period would have known it wasn't a good thing. Oh well, it passed proof at the time and the barrels look good, so it might get some work with light loads on clays. Drew, would you like me to email you some better photos or will those do?

Already have them up on the PictureTrail Bob, and thanks again
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=18015717

That appears to be the "Peter Max" style Damascus.