Lot Essay
The fitting of the barrel and the reduction of the stock were almost certainly carried out in London, and in view of the barrelsmith's mark almost certainly by James Barbar
Details
A 16-BORE FRENCH FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN
BY JEAN LE PAGE, PARIS, CIRCA 1765
Fitted with earlier Spanish two-stage barrel (probably slightly shortened) with silver spider fore-sight and cast and chased silver ring back-sight, the octagonal breech with gold-inlaid signature 'Esteva n Barcelona. 1750', gold line, gold-lined barrelsmith's mark of A. Pedro Esteva of Barcelona (Neue Støckel 328, 329) within eighteen smaller gold-inlaid decorative marks, gold-lined touch-hole, engraved tang, finely engraved shaped flat bevelled lock signed in gold and with a sporting trophy on the stepped tail (top jaw and screw associated), moulded figured walnut half-stock (reduced from full and with minor chips and scratches) carved in relief with scrolls, flowers and foliage behind the barrel tang and on the underside of the fore-end, iron mounts chiselled in relief with scrollwork and foliage, the trigger-guard with urn finial, leather-covered comb on the butt, iron baluster rear ramrod-pipe and two silver pipes on the ramrod-rib, horn fore-end cap, and original ramrod with iron-capped horn tip, the external screw-heads chiselled with foliage in low relief on a gilt fish-roe ground, London proof marks, barrelsmith's mark IB
36¼in. barrel
BY JEAN LE PAGE, PARIS, CIRCA 1765
Fitted with earlier Spanish two-stage barrel (probably slightly shortened) with silver spider fore-sight and cast and chased silver ring back-sight, the octagonal breech with gold-inlaid signature 'Esteva n Barcelona. 1750', gold line, gold-lined barrelsmith's mark of A. Pedro Esteva of Barcelona (Neue Støckel 328, 329) within eighteen smaller gold-inlaid decorative marks, gold-lined touch-hole, engraved tang, finely engraved shaped flat bevelled lock signed in gold and with a sporting trophy on the stepped tail (top jaw and screw associated), moulded figured walnut half-stock (reduced from full and with minor chips and scratches) carved in relief with scrolls, flowers and foliage behind the barrel tang and on the underside of the fore-end, iron mounts chiselled in relief with scrollwork and foliage, the trigger-guard with urn finial, leather-covered comb on the butt, iron baluster rear ramrod-pipe and two silver pipes on the ramrod-rib, horn fore-end cap, and original ramrod with iron-capped horn tip, the external screw-heads chiselled with foliage in low relief on a gilt fish-roe ground, London proof marks, barrelsmith's mark IB
36¼in. barrel