Ken,

I inferred from your statement about the "12 gau. muzzle-loading double barrel shotgun with the name "John Griffith" engraved on it has turned up recently" that it turned up or was discovered by someone in your family, such as grandparents, cousins, etc. and that they found it in an attic or trunk etc. having been with other family belongings.

Since the shotgun was located by someone outside the family, and the name on the gun just happened to coincide with your g.g. uncle's name, it seems that it would be even less likley than ever that it belonged to your ancestor ... what with the common name of John Griffith permeating the ranks of Confederate soldiers. With a dozen Ark soldiers alone having this name (and doubtless many more dozens throughout the Confederacy with this name), unless there is more information on the engraving to narrow the field (such as regt./co.), I would not pay a premium for this shotgun.

And as I mentioned before, even if information eventually surfaces to corroborate its association with your ancestor, we still don't know if he purchased the shotgun before the war, after the war, etc. Some Confed. cavalry units did carry shotguns during the war, especially early on. But the 11/17th Ark. Inf. became mounted infantry (and not cavalry) at some point mid to late war, so this fact also seems to limit the possibility of its wartime association with your g.g. uncle.

In short, I would be skeptical unless more evidence surfaces to link this shotgun to its wartime use by your ancestor.

Mike