Lot 61

Young Factory Master Engraved Wesson Double Barrel Shotgun

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Young Factory Master Engraved Wesson Double Barrel Shotgun

Estimate: $6,000 - $9,500

Starting Bid: $5,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Scarce and Highly Desirable Gustave Young Factory Master Engraved Wesson Damascus Double Barrel Hammer Shotgun Patented in December of 1867 by Daniel B. Wesson. According to Norm Flayderman, only approximately 219 of these scarce and highly desirable shotguns were manufactured from 1868 to 1870 with some, like this example, having been masterfully engraved by the legendary Master Engraver Gustave Young, who was Smith & Wesson's factory master engraver from 1869 into the 1890s. Young is considered one of the most talented American engravers of the 19th century and any examples of his work remained highly desirable among today's collectors. It is believed that these high quality shotguns were manufactured in the Smith & Wesson factory and then finished somewhere nearby. The limited production of these precisely fitted shotguns was due in large part to a plethora of cheaper competitors on the market at the time. It is built with blued Damascus steel barrels featuring a single bead sight and the single line Wesson address on the smooth concave solid rib, light scroll at the rib extension, and fitted with an extractor. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened bar-in-wood style action which displays extensive broad scroll designs by Gustave Young. It features rebounding hammers, bushed firing pins, double triggers, and a wedge fastener "monkey tail" toplever reminiscent of Remington's later Model 1874 and 1876. The gun is fitted with a nicely figured and multi-point checkered forend with wedge fastener and straight grip stock with blank inscription oval on the bottom and an engraved steel skeletonized buttplate. It has 2 1/2 inch chambers and choke constrictions of .005/.005. The length of pull is 13 7/8 inches.

Manufacturer: Wesson Firearms Co Inc

Model: Double

BBL: 29 7/8 inch solid rib

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 12

Finish: brown/casehardened

Serial Number114

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Fine, retains traces of the original brown finish with distinct Damascus patterns and 40% of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered patches of light pitting, and crisp engraving. The wood is fine with a few light edge chips, some scattered minor dings and scratches, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. These Wesson shotguns are seldom encountered on today's collectors market!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000