.jpg?w=1)
BY BENJAMIN GRIFFIN, LONDON, CIRCA 1755
Details
A 16-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun
By Benjamin Griffin, London, circa 1755
With two-stage Spanish barrel with silver fore-sight and chiselled girdle, the breech inlaid with numerous decorative marks in silver and inlaid in silver with the date '1752', gold-lined touch-hole, engraved grooved tang, flat border engraved bevelled lock signed on a ribbon, figured walnut full stock carved with a shell behind the barrel tang (butt extended), engraved iron mounts, shaped solid side-plate, trigger-guard with first pattern acorn finial, chiselled escutcheon, butt-plate numbered '17', and later horn-tipped ramrod (some wear and surface pitting), London proof marks, and Griffin's own griffin mark
41½in. (105.4cm.) barrel
By Benjamin Griffin, London, circa 1755
With two-stage Spanish barrel with silver fore-sight and chiselled girdle, the breech inlaid with numerous decorative marks in silver and inlaid in silver with the date '1752', gold-lined touch-hole, engraved grooved tang, flat border engraved bevelled lock signed on a ribbon, figured walnut full stock carved with a shell behind the barrel tang (butt extended), engraved iron mounts, shaped solid side-plate, trigger-guard with first pattern acorn finial, chiselled escutcheon, butt-plate numbered '17', and later horn-tipped ramrod (some wear and surface pitting), London proof marks, and Griffin's own griffin mark
41½in. (105.4cm.) barrel
Provenance
Charles, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (d. 1782), Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire
Listed as '17. Scythe Gun' in the inventory of 1782
Listed as '17. Scythe Gun' in the inventory of 1782
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, p. 100, plates 325, 332-4
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, p. 51, plates 11a-b
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, p. 51, plates 11a-b
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.