BY WILLIAM BAILES, RUSSEL (SIC) STREET, BLOOMSBURY, LONDON, CIRCA 1760

Details

A Fine 16-bore Flintlock Sporting Gun
By William Bailes, Russel (sic) Street, Bloomsbury, London, circa 1760
With rebrowned two-stage barrel signed in full on the breech and engraved with a band of beadwork at the rear, turned girdle, and silver spider fore-sight, gold-lined touch-hole, finely engraved tang, signed flat lock with moulded border and stepped tail, the plate secured by two screws from the right side (top jaw associated, screw replaced), moulded figured walnut half-stock carved in relief with a shell and rococo scrolls at the barrel tang, engraved iron mounts, fine silver wire inlay instead of a side-plate, with simulated screw-heads, a basket of flowers in silver instead of an escutcheon, engraved trigger-guard with first pattern acorn finial, horn fore-end cap, and later horn-tipped ramrod, London proof marks and Foreigner's mark
441/8in. (112cm.) barrel

Literature

Richard Akehurst, Sporting Guns, p. 39, plates 30, 32
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, plates 416-7
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, pp. 164-5, plates 77a-d, and colour plates VII, VIII

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

William Bailes (circa 1700-1766) was at Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury from 1748 until his death. He is credited by Sir Thomas Frankland (in Cautions to Young Sportsmen) with the invention of the under-rib as fitted on this gun. See lot 50

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