.jpg?w=1)
BY HUGH VERNCOMB, BRISTOL, CIRCA 1780
Details
A 17-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun
By Hugh Verncomb, Bristol, circa 1780
With two-stage Spanish barrel with chiselled girdle and silver fore-sight, the octagonal breech with two gold-lined maker's stamps of Juan Esteban Bustindui of Eibar (Neue Støckel 124, 130), three decorative fleur-de-lys marks (gold lining missing from one), and a gold-inlaid cross, gold-lined touch-hole, plain shaped tang, flat bevelled lock signed on the inside and with roller and stepped tail, figured walnut full stock with take-down fore-end (minor bruising) inlaid with wood and horn at the grip, shaped iron mounts including pierced side-plate, the trigger-guard and the tang of the butt-plate each with second pattern acorn finial, four iron ramrod-pipes, and original horn-tipped wooden ramrod with worm (iron parts with some surface pitting)
38in. (96.5cm.) barrel
By Hugh Verncomb, Bristol, circa 1780
With two-stage Spanish barrel with chiselled girdle and silver fore-sight, the octagonal breech with two gold-lined maker's stamps of Juan Esteban Bustindui of Eibar (Neue Støckel 124, 130), three decorative fleur-de-lys marks (gold lining missing from one), and a gold-inlaid cross, gold-lined touch-hole, plain shaped tang, flat bevelled lock signed on the inside and with roller and stepped tail, figured walnut full stock with take-down fore-end (minor bruising) inlaid with wood and horn at the grip, shaped iron mounts including pierced side-plate, the trigger-guard and the tang of the butt-plate each with second pattern acorn finial, four iron ramrod-pipes, and original horn-tipped wooden ramrod with worm (iron parts with some surface pitting)
38in. (96.5cm.) barrel
Provenance
Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing (d. 1976), Chief of the Imperial General Staff, ardent collector and close friend of Keith Neal, with whom many exchanges were made over a long period of years
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, p. 117, plates 447, 448
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.