THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR
A Fine Cased 5-Bore Percussion Elephant Rifle
BY CHARLES OSBORNE, BIRMINGHAM, CIRCA 1850
Details
A Fine Cased 5-Bore Percussion Elephant Rifle
By Charles Osborne, Birmingham, Circa 1850
With massive browned twist barrel with top flat, cut with five wide grooves and sighted to 200 yards, signed 'Chas. Osborne London' in gold gothic letters within scrollwork at the breech, and stamped with Hyderabad armoury number on the side, scroll engraved case-hardened patent breech with two gold lines and platinum plug, scroll engraved case-hardened tang, signed case-hardened lock engraved en suite, ebonised half-stock inlaid with silver wire scrollwork terminating in small leaves and flowers, chequered grip and fore-end, scroll engraved blued iron mounts, silver escutcheon, iron sling mounts, ebony fore-end cap, and most of its original finish; in relined and partly refitted brass-bound mahogany case (lid cracked) with some accessories including Hawksley brass-mounted copper flask, and original wad cutter and brass bullet mould, Birmingham proof marks
33 7/8in. (86cm.) barrel
Charles Osborne is recorded as Gunmaker & Factor in Birmingham 1841-1853, and as Charles Osborne & Co from 1855. He was appointed Guardian of the Birmingham proof house in 1858, and died in 1871.
A similar rifle was sold at Christie's, 20 November 1996, lot 151, and another is illustrated in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Early Firearms of Great Britain and Ireland From the Collection of Clay Bedford, No. 99, p. 101
By Charles Osborne, Birmingham, Circa 1850
With massive browned twist barrel with top flat, cut with five wide grooves and sighted to 200 yards, signed 'Chas. Osborne London' in gold gothic letters within scrollwork at the breech, and stamped with Hyderabad armoury number on the side, scroll engraved case-hardened patent breech with two gold lines and platinum plug, scroll engraved case-hardened tang, signed case-hardened lock engraved en suite, ebonised half-stock inlaid with silver wire scrollwork terminating in small leaves and flowers, chequered grip and fore-end, scroll engraved blued iron mounts, silver escutcheon, iron sling mounts, ebony fore-end cap, and most of its original finish; in relined and partly refitted brass-bound mahogany case (lid cracked) with some accessories including Hawksley brass-mounted copper flask, and original wad cutter and brass bullet mould, Birmingham proof marks
33 7/8in. (86cm.) barrel
Charles Osborne is recorded as Gunmaker & Factor in Birmingham 1841-1853, and as Charles Osborne & Co from 1855. He was appointed Guardian of the Birmingham proof house in 1858, and died in 1871.
A similar rifle was sold at Christie's, 20 November 1996, lot 151, and another is illustrated in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Early Firearms of Great Britain and Ireland From the Collection of Clay Bedford, No. 99, p. 101