David Livingstone's Gun

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Carrying a shotgun was "de rigeur" for anyone brave enough to venture into the interior of Africa, and the Royal Geographical Society of London strongly advised it to all explorers. Livingstone didn't possess skilled shooting skills, but he still ventured out, determined to put an end to a lion that had been terrorizing a small village. When Livingstone shot at the beast, he missed the mark, allowing the lion to attack and badly injure his left arm. Fortunately, his assistant was able to bring down the lion, saving Livingstone from further harm. Despite being unable to regain full use of his mangled arm, Livingstone managed to survive thanks to the lack of antibiotics at that time. The shotgun on display is not the exact same one used by Livingstone during his expedition, but it's a replica of the I. Hollis & Sons 10-gauge shotgun he carried with him until his death from dysentery in 1873. When Livingstone passed away, this shotgun was sent back to England in the coffin alongside his embalmed body. This remarkable object originates from Smithsonian X 3D, made available under a Share Alike, Non-Commercial license. For more information and educational resources surrounding this object, please visit https://3d.si.edu . We encourage you to share your own photographs of your work with us below!