A CASED 16-BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN

Details
A CASED 16-BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN

BY SAMUEL 2 OAKES, LONDON, CIRCA 1790

With rebrowned two-stage barrel, turned girdle, and silver fore-sight, Henry Nock patent breech with gold line, gold-lined maker's stamp, and gold-lined touch-hole, engraved tang, signed flat bevelled lock with stepped tail, roller, and semi-rainproof pan, slender figured walnut half-stock, chequered grip and fore-end, engraved iron mounts including trigger-guard with urn and pineapple finial, iron barrel-bolt escutcheons, horn fore-end cap, original horn-tipped ramrod, and faint traces of original finish: in contemporary lined and fitted mahogany case with accessories, the lid with H.W. Mortimer illustrated trade label for circa 1799-1806 and flush-fitting carrying handle, London proof marks
36 1/8in. barrel

Lot Essay

The trade label is of the type illustrated in H. Lee Munson, The Mortimer Gunmakers, plate 449

Sold with the late owner's typed note giving details of the gun's prowess (including four starlings on the wing with one shot), the acquisition of the gun for 30/- in about 1930, and of the case for 5/-. The gun was often used when shooting at Priddy in the Mendips before the Second World War, with George Mullins who 'always thought it the best shooting flint gun he had ever seen. In those days the old locals could still remember the flint guns which had been in use when they were children. They referred to them as those old stone guns'

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