Cal. 12ga. NSN. Thomas Cofer of Portsmouth, Va is best known as maker of rare brass framed Confederate revolvers but prior to the war he sold and repaired imported arms such as this circa 1860 side by side percussion shotgun. Few of these agent marked arms are known with "T.W. COFER & Co." "PORTSMOUTH, VA." fancy etched gilded marking on top rib. The shotgun was long time in the collection of Confederate collector Fred Edmunds and was displayed with his Cofer revolver for many years. William Albaugh, Hugh Benet, & Edward N. Simmons in their pioneering 1963 text "Confederate Handguns" show this identical marking on Mr. Simmons gun stating this arm "even more uncommon than his pistols". 46" overall, 30" barrels, iron mounted, checkered wrist & forestock. Shotgun is "as found" and has the look of so many wartime used arms, we don't know if this shotgun made it into the field, but many did. CONDITION: very good overall, dark iron patina, sound stock with staining and hand worn patina, mechanics or sound, smooth clear bores. PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds collection, Private Southern collection. (01-24686/JS). ANTIQUE. $6,000-8,000.