Roos and Sohn Percussion Side by Side Shotgun

The Germanic origins of this shotgun may be seen in its engraving and carving.

Circa 1855 Roos (Mexico/Germany) Percussion Shotgun (muzzle-loading/ black powder/ shot ammunition) This circa-1855 gold inlaid, engraved, and carved shotgun came from U. Roos and Sohn in Stuttgart. Its Germanic origins show through in the firm steel engraving and in the deep wood carving. Guns from other countries of origin, including France, England, Spain, and Italy, are equally identifiable by their distinctive art work.

The Roos shotgun may be compared culturally to the A.J. Plate shotgun (see Case 30 gun 20). Conclusions drawn from comparisons show that most European guns were made for upper-class people, wheras most United States-manufactured guns were made for the middle class. Such distinctions continue to the present day. The Roos gun was imported to Mexico. As a nation, Mexico did not wish to rely on Spain, France, England, Italy, or the United States for armament technology. It often turned therefore to Germany for new guns and new ideas. --Dr. William L. Roberts, THE AMERICAN LIBERTY COLLECTION; #62