A very rare 4 Bore Percussion Elephant Rifle. 46 ½” overall, 29 ¼” massive steel octagonal 4 bore barrel with 5 wide grooves, adjustable fore sight, ladder rear sight, top flat engraved ‘Robert Hughes Universal Fire Arm Works Birmingham’. Birmingham proofs on underside. Scroll engraved case hardened patent breech, scroll engraved case hardened tang, case hardened lock engraved en suite signed ‘R Hughes’. Walnut half stock, chequered grip and fore-end, silver plated patch box engraved with an elephant, scroll engraved silver plated mounts, silver escutcheon, iron sling mounts, ebony fore-end cap, brass tipped wooden ramrod. Weight 13 lbs.
Circa 1870
A very rare rifle in good condition, retaining most original finish and silver plating. Good bore, no cracks in stock.
Robert Hughes 1855-1900 Molam Street Birmingham adopted name Universal Fire Arm Works in 1868. Specialist in export firearms.
This type of percussion rifle was the favoured tool of rhinoceros hunters of the time; short and light enough to be carried distances on horse back but packing a powerful punch, and persisted well into the cartridge era.