Ancion SXS

[Hawg]

SHEESH!!! I had a whole post typed out and tried to use the forum software to post pics but instead of posting it deleted the entire post. I had to upload the pics to Imgur.  I have a hard time getting good full length pics on my phone. I tried a lot of places and this is the best I could come up with. I guess I need to try to find my old camera even if it is only 10 pixels and hope it still works. Anyway it's an Ancion 12 gauge made sometime before 1866. It's had some repairs and is missing the front ramrod thimble. The flat checkering is still in good shape. I think the ramrod is original but if it isn't at least the tip is. I really like the ornate carving on the wrist. The barrel rib is engraved and the name is hidden in the engraving. I don't know how long I had it before I found it. It says Ancion & Co. Liege.

[Marshal Will]

That thing is really cool, Hawg. I love those old hammer doubles. This one looks like a beauty.

[Miguel Loco]

beautiful!

[Zulch]

Hawg!!?? You been holdin' out??!!  Man that is awesome. Do you have anymore details on that gun that you could share?  I would love to shoot that one..Thanks for sharing!! Tell us more if you can? Where did you get that one?

[Hawg]

Not much more to tell. Ancion made guns from IIRC 1836 until 1866. The name changed to J. Ancion & CIE in 1866. That's how I know it was made before 1866. I got it from my gunsmith back in the 90's. He was a master gun builder that only worked on bolt action rifles. I don't remember how I found him but I was looking for somebody to do the work on a 98 Mauser I was building. I'd go up there on weekends a lot of times just to talk guns and look at his stuff. He had it sitting in a rack with about 50 other guns and he said he took it for a debt somebody owed him. I asked if he wanted to sell it but he just smiled and shook his head. The first time I went there he had this big full blooded female wolf and she came out of the shop. Man she looked mean. She looked like she'd just as soon rip your arm off as look at you. He just said don't mess with her and she won't bother you but she came right up to me and started sniffing me. I'm not scared of dogs I don't know but she did make me a little nervous but I slowly reached down and started scratching her ears. He couldn't believe it. He said she wont let anybody but me touch her. I guess he took a liking to me because of that. Later we were in the shop looking at some parts he had when it sounded like two cars hit in the parking lot. We went to the door and she had jumped up in the bed of my truck with the tailgate closed. He said she don't do that you must have something back there she wants. I said no, there's nothing in there. I think he saw me as a potential customer but I think that wolf helped me get one of the best friends I ever had. He gave me that shotgun before he died. Sorry for the trip down memory lane. I didn't intend to. That old gun is one of my most prized possessions. I don't shoot it much anymore because it's special and I don't want anything to happen to it but I do take it out for a few shots every now and then.

[Bishop Creek]

Good story Hawg, and beautiful old hammer muzzle-loader.

[Marshal Will]

Thanks for sharing that great story with us. It really gives that shotgun meaning.

[Len]

Nice gun, nice story. Thanks

[Zulch]

Not much more to tell. Ancion made guns from IIRC 1836 until 1866. The name changed to J. Ancion & CIE in 1866. That's how I know it was made before 1866. I got it from my gunsmith back in the 90's. He was a master gun builder that only worked on bolt action rifles. I don't remember how I found him but I was looking for somebody to do the work on a 98 Mauser I was building. I'd go up there on weekends a lot of times just to talk guns and look at his stuff. He had it sitting in a rack with about 50 other guns and he said he took it for a debt somebody owed him. I asked if he wanted to sell it but he just smiled and shook his head. The first time I went there he had this big full blooded female wolf and she came out of the shop. Man she looked mean. She looked like she'd just as soon rip your arm off as look at you. He just said don't mess with her and she won't bother you but she came right up to me and started sniffing me. I'm not scared of dogs I don't know but she did make me a little nervous but I slowly reached down and started scratching her ears. He couldn't believe it. He said she wont let anybody but me touch her. I guess he took a liking to me because of that. Later we were in the shop looking at some parts he had when it sounded like two cars hit in the parking lot. We went to the door and she had jumped up in the bed of my truck with the tailgate closed. He said she don't do that you must have something back there she wants. I said no, there's nothing in there. I think he saw me as a potential customer but I think that wolf helped me get one of the best friends I ever had. He gave me that shotgun before he died. Sorry for the trip down memory lane. I didn't intend to. That old gun is one of my most prized possessions. I don't shoot it much anymore because it's special and I don't want anything to happen to it but I do take it out for a few shots every now and then.

Thanks Hawg, I like trips down memory lane myself and also enjoy hearing of others trips as well. He had a wolf? That is very interesting! I assume this was in the MS area? Sounds like the wolf and the gunsmith took a liking to you.  Dang good story Hawg. Thanks for sharing.

[Hawg]

Thanks Hawg, I like trips down memory lane myself and also enjoy hearing of others trips as well. He had a wolf? That is very interesting! I assume this was in the MS area? Sounds like the wolf and the gunsmith took a liking to you.  Dang good story Hawg. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah a full blood wolf in Columbus, MS. Yeah we got to be friends pretty quick but that didn't mean he cut me any slack. I still had to pay full price and since he was a master builder he wasn't cheap. I did get some stuff I wouldn't have gotten otherwise tho. That Mauser wears an Obermeyer barrel. Deer hunting with it is almost cheating. He's the one that got me into long range target shooting. He had one of my rifles when he died and his son in law came in and cleaned everything out. Thankfully I wasn't but about 300.00 into it.

[Navy Six]

Love the dog story, never get tired of good dogs. I recently came across a Hopkins & Allen hammer double in 12ga. One of those closet finds that changed hands until someone really wanted it--ME! I had to put about $400 into it to tighten things up but the gunsmith said it was called a Model 100 which he had yet to come across. I love old hammer doubles and now the gun is back in good shooting order.

[Hawg]

Love the dog story, never get tired of good dogs. I recently came across a Hopkins & Allen hammer double in 12ga. One of those closet finds that changed hands until someone really wanted it--ME! I had to put about $400 into it to tighten things up but the gunsmith said it was called a Model 100 which he had yet to come across. I love old hammer doubles and now the gun is back in good shooting order.

Pics?

[Zulch]

Love the dog story, never get tired of good dogs. I recently came across a Hopkins & Allen hammer double in 12ga. One of those closet finds that changed hands until someone really wanted it--ME! I had to put about $400 into it to tighten things up but the gunsmith said it was called a Model 100 which he had yet to come across. I love old hammer doubles and now the gun is back in good shooting order.

Pics?

What he said ^^^^^ we like pics. 

[Captainkirk]

Fantastic story, Hawg! That's the kinda stuff I love...the personal side of old guns and the history and personal relationship of the individual telling the story! I can tell that's one you'd never part with.
As for the gun itself, love it! what a treasure!

[ShotgunDave]

That's a beautiful SxS Hawg. And the story behind it makes it even better. I love hearing this kind of stuff.