BY JOHN TOW, LONDON, CIRCA 1785
Details
An Unusual Flintlock Blunderbuss
By John Tow, London, Circa 1785
With slender belled brass barrel signed on the top flat at the breech and struck with proof marks and barrelsmith's mark on the left side, and fitted with hinged bayonet on the right side (release stud missing), engraved tang, signed border engraved flat bevelled lock with safety-catch, stepped tail, and ramp on the steel-spring (mainspring broken), figured walnut full stock (minor bruising, fore-end chipped) with raised moulding at the barrel tang, lightly engraved brass mounts including shaped escutcheon and trigger-guard with acorn finial, and original horn-tipped ramrod with worm, London proof marks
31½in. (77.5cm.)
John Tow worked in partnership with Joseph Griffin at 10 New Bond Street from 1772 to 1782, then continued the business at the same address from 1783 to 1792, when he was succeeded by Charles Grierson. He died in 1795.
For a Tow pistol with a very similar lock see W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Messers Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, plate 64a
By John Tow, London, Circa 1785
With slender belled brass barrel signed on the top flat at the breech and struck with proof marks and barrelsmith's mark on the left side, and fitted with hinged bayonet on the right side (release stud missing), engraved tang, signed border engraved flat bevelled lock with safety-catch, stepped tail, and ramp on the steel-spring (mainspring broken), figured walnut full stock (minor bruising, fore-end chipped) with raised moulding at the barrel tang, lightly engraved brass mounts including shaped escutcheon and trigger-guard with acorn finial, and original horn-tipped ramrod with worm, London proof marks
31½in. (77.5cm.)
John Tow worked in partnership with Joseph Griffin at 10 New Bond Street from 1772 to 1782, then continued the business at the same address from 1783 to 1792, when he was succeeded by Charles Grierson. He died in 1795.
For a Tow pistol with a very similar lock see W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Messers Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, plate 64a