Lot Essay
Edward Newton of Grantham, first recorded in 1718, died in 1764. John Twigg was almost certainly apprenticed to him, as was Joseph Manton
Details
A 16-BORE FLINTLOCK GUN
BY EDWARD NEWTON, GRANTHAM, CIRCA 1760
With two-stage barrel signed on the octagonal breech, struck with rectangular maker's mark and a Tudor rose on the left side, and engraved with foliage at the rear, the muzzle with silver fore-sight and an iron stud for a bayonet on the underside, engraved grooved tang, bevelled lock finely engraved with foliage and signed within a rococo cartouche, the stepped tail engraved with a rabbit in a landscape, engraved pivoting safety-steel, figured walnut full stock extending almost as far as the bayonet lug and with iron fore-end band, the butt carved with a shell in relief behind the barrel tang, iron mounts including solid stepped side-plate finely engraved with rococo shells and foliage and lightly engraved butt-plate with sprung hinged cover to the bayonet compartment engraved with the number '6', chiselled steel escutcheon, three barrel-bolts, turned iron ramrod-pipes, and later horn-tipped ramrod (some light surface pitting)
38in. (96.5cm.) barrel
BY EDWARD NEWTON, GRANTHAM, CIRCA 1760
With two-stage barrel signed on the octagonal breech, struck with rectangular maker's mark and a Tudor rose on the left side, and engraved with foliage at the rear, the muzzle with silver fore-sight and an iron stud for a bayonet on the underside, engraved grooved tang, bevelled lock finely engraved with foliage and signed within a rococo cartouche, the stepped tail engraved with a rabbit in a landscape, engraved pivoting safety-steel, figured walnut full stock extending almost as far as the bayonet lug and with iron fore-end band, the butt carved with a shell in relief behind the barrel tang, iron mounts including solid stepped side-plate finely engraved with rococo shells and foliage and lightly engraved butt-plate with sprung hinged cover to the bayonet compartment engraved with the number '6', chiselled steel escutcheon, three barrel-bolts, turned iron ramrod-pipes, and later horn-tipped ramrod (some light surface pitting)
38in. (96.5cm.) barrel
Provenance
Charles Watson Wentworth, 2nd Marquis of Rockingham (1730-1782), whig politician and twice Prime Minister. All the more important guns in the Gun Closet at Wentworth Woodhouse were numbered on the butt-plate. An inventory of 1782 lists the present gun as 'Newtons smooth barrel'd Gun' (W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1749-90, plate 323)
Literature
W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, ibid, p. 101 (an account of the Gun Closet is given on pp. 99-101)