Details
A RARE 38-BORE FRENCH FLINTLOCK SPORTING CARBINE (CARABINE TOURNANTE)
BY NICHOLAS-NOEL BOUTET, VERSAILLES, CIRCA 1805
With swamped octagonal multi-groove rifled barrels each inlaid with numerous small gold stars (some missing) and with a gilt panel at the muzzle and breech, the former engraved with thunderclouds and lightning and the latter with a swag of fruit and flowers, the underside of one barrel engraved 'Boutet Direct. Artiste' and of the other 'Manufre a Versailles', silver fore-sights and gold-lined touch-holes, shaped tang retained by two screws, incorporating a back-sight, and minutely engraved with neo-Classical ornament involving two medallions engraved with a stork and a squirrel respectively, bevelled back-action lock minutely engraved with wildfowl and a wolf caught in a trap, all in a wooded landscape, rollers and shallow gold-lined pans, figured carved walnut stock (minor damage and repair), the butt with carved cheek-piece on each side terminating in a rosette, behind the grip a finely carved marine monster's head in ebony, minutely engraved iron mounts, the tang of the butt-plate decorated with an ostrich, the side-plate with wildfowl attacked by a hawk, and the trigger-guard with a male demi-figure, the front of the trigger-guard forming the barrel-release, plain curved bar securing the steel in the closed position, four engraved iron ramrod-pipes, the tail-pipe decorated with a hound, gold escutcheon engraved with the initials 'SB', and brass ramrod with iron tip and worm (in worn condition throughout)
23 5/8in. (60cm.) barrels
