Need info on H Pieper S x S one barrel 12 gauge the other 390 bore with 2 inch long straight case shell?

Answer 1

Henri Pieper was a Belgian gunmaker that began producing firearms in the late 1860's. His sons continued the business after his death in 1898, and the business still continues today albeit under different ownership.

Your gun is traditionally called a 'cape gun' which denotes a double-barrel firearm with one rifle and one shotgun barrel in a horizontal configuration.

Pieper's guns were made in varying degrees of quality and ornamentation, from hardware-store catalog to finely ornamented double shotguns of considerable quality - although never reaching true 'Best Quality.' Most Pieper guns seen in the US are low grade double shotguns designed for hardware store distribution.

Although the cape gun is a very European configuration, most of those would be 16 gauge and not 12 gauge. The 12 is a very American gauge. Without being able to see and measure the rifle chamber, it may very well be chambered for .38-55 Winchester which was a very popular black powder round in the 1890's. If so, this gun would have been produced for the American market and sold by the various big hardware chains. No doubt a 'one gun for all hunting' approach to appeal to the farmer/settlers without a lot of disposable income.

I would suggest having the gun gone over thoroughly by a knowledgable gunsmith. You really need to have a chamber cast made to correctly determine the rifle caliber, as well as measuring the depth of the shotgun chamber (I bet it is 2 1/2"). Also, PLEASE do not attempt to fire the gun - smokeless cartridges or shotshells would be very dangerous.

Value on the Pieper guns are generally lower than the more elaborate European makers such as Sauer or Churchill. Figure topping out at $500-$700 if the gun is in excellent condition.