Lot Essay
According to Neal and Back (loc. cit.) this is the earliest known English gun with a false breech
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UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1730-35
Details
An Unusual 16-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun
Unsigned, circa 1730-35
With three-stage barrel with raised mouldings, silver fore-sight, and border engraved octagonal then polygonal breech section engraved with a band of foliage at the rear, finely engraved grooved false breech with integral hood, rounded lock with raised border and chiselled details, moulded figured walnut half-stock (minor chips) carved in relief with a shell behind the barrel tang, cast and engraved brass mounts, pierced trophy of arms side-plate, large escutcheon with a shell above and a satyr-mask beneath, trigger-guard with first pattern acorn finial, engraved fore-end cap, brass ramrod-pipes, and iron-capped ramrod with worm (some light pitting, mainly on barrel), Birmingham proof marks
40in. (101.6cm.) barrel
Unsigned, circa 1730-35
With three-stage barrel with raised mouldings, silver fore-sight, and border engraved octagonal then polygonal breech section engraved with a band of foliage at the rear, finely engraved grooved false breech with integral hood, rounded lock with raised border and chiselled details, moulded figured walnut half-stock (minor chips) carved in relief with a shell behind the barrel tang, cast and engraved brass mounts, pierced trophy of arms side-plate, large escutcheon with a shell above and a satyr-mask beneath, trigger-guard with first pattern acorn finial, engraved fore-end cap, brass ramrod-pipes, and iron-capped ramrod with worm (some light pitting, mainly on barrel), Birmingham proof marks
40in. (101.6cm.) barrel
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, pp. 113-4, plates 421-3
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.