Percussion Double Barreled Shotgun

[RickyTexan]

Hi Team. I saw a picture from the Civil War of a soldier holding a double barrel percussion shotgun (See below). I had no idea shotguns were used in battle. Were these common?
Thanks
Ricky.

 

[UCVRelics]

Hi Team. I saw a picture from the Civil War of a soldier holding a double barrel percussion shotgun (See below). I had no idea shotguns were used in battle. Were these common?
Thanks
Ricky.

View attachment 437615

Yes the were. We have had many great threads on this topic. If you go up to the top left side of the home page you will see the search button. Type in shotguns and you will see all of these great threads.

 

[RickyTexan]

Thanks so much!!! Really appreciate the guidance.

 

[scooter748driver]

Yes, they were used and my understanding they were more common for the Confederacy (but don't quote me).

Here's a confirmed Confederate double barrel shotgun I was fortunate enough to pick up recently

 

[C. Cash]

They were more common during the start up years of the War, especially among Confederate Cavalry. They switched them out as they captured military grade rifles and carbines. By 1864 they appear to be mostly gone among Wheeler's Cavalry and they mostly had Lorenz and Enfield rifles and Carbines. Some Sharps and even a very few captured Spencers.

 

[captaindrew]

A popular arm in the Confederate cavalry. Wouldn't see it much in the infantry except maybe very early in the war.

 

[UCVRelics]

Here is another great thread on them

The Cook & Brothers Shotgun Bayonet | Edged Weapons

… Another interesting tidbit- Ferdinand’s wife’s brother, John Wesley Wilcox of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, may have placed the last cannon at the battle of Appomattox and was about to fire before a confederate yelled “stop! We have surrendered!” John Wesley went to Athens after...

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