Lot Essay
Neal and Back (op. cit.) list only eight known Twigg sporting rifles (including a pair, and a converted single), of which this is the most Continental in style
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BY JOHN TWIGG, LONDON, CIRCA 1776-80
Details
A Rare 36-Bore Flintlock Sporting Rifle
By John Twigg, London, circa 1776-80
With lightly swamped rebrowned octagonal twist barrel rifled with seven grooves and signed in gold letters, iron back-sight and gold fore-sight, the rear of the breech with bands of gold decoration, gold-lined touch-hole, finely engraved tang, flat bevelled lock with safety-catch and second form of signature, moulded figured walnut half-stock (perhaps reduced from full) carved in relief in the German fashion, raised cheek-piece, shaped brass mounts finely engraved with rococo designs, wooden trigger-guard with engraved brass strap terminating in a pineapple, faceted ramrod-pipes of iron and brass, set trigger, horn fore-end cap, and later horn-tipped ramrod, London proof marks
28¼in. (71.7cm.) barrel
By John Twigg, London, circa 1776-80
With lightly swamped rebrowned octagonal twist barrel rifled with seven grooves and signed in gold letters, iron back-sight and gold fore-sight, the rear of the breech with bands of gold decoration, gold-lined touch-hole, finely engraved tang, flat bevelled lock with safety-catch and second form of signature, moulded figured walnut half-stock (perhaps reduced from full) carved in relief in the German fashion, raised cheek-piece, shaped brass mounts finely engraved with rococo designs, wooden trigger-guard with engraved brass strap terminating in a pineapple, faceted ramrod-pipes of iron and brass, set trigger, horn fore-end cap, and later horn-tipped ramrod, London proof marks
28¼in. (71.7cm.) barrel
Provenance
A. Chamberlain, Salisbury: acquired by the late owner circa 1948
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, pp. 57, 185, plates 172-6
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.