Lot Essay
The refinements in the attachment of the cocks are peculiar to this maker. Only three shotguns by Bass are listed by W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back
Details
A RARE CASED 18-BORE D.B. FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN
BY JOHN BASS, LONDON, CIRCA 1791-4
With rebrowned twist barrels (some light pitting) signed in gold at the breech and each with a gold breech-line and gold-lined touch-hole, silver fore-sight, engraved grooved tang, signed bevelled locks each with roller and gold-lined semi-rainproof pan, one pan-cover also gold-lined, the cocks each attached to the tumbler by a nut, with an additional screw passing through the tumbler from the inside and screwing into the base of the cock, the top jaws each with an extension collar to give a longer bearing for the jaw-screw, walnut half-stock originally fitted with a cheek-pad, chequered grip, engraved iron mounts including signed trigger-guard engraved with a dog and a bird in a landscape and with large pineapple finial, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons, and later ramrod: in lined and fitted mahogany case, probably original, with some accessories, the lid with flush-fitting carrying handle, London proof marks
33.3.4in. barrels
BY JOHN BASS, LONDON, CIRCA 1791-4
With rebrowned twist barrels (some light pitting) signed in gold at the breech and each with a gold breech-line and gold-lined touch-hole, silver fore-sight, engraved grooved tang, signed bevelled locks each with roller and gold-lined semi-rainproof pan, one pan-cover also gold-lined, the cocks each attached to the tumbler by a nut, with an additional screw passing through the tumbler from the inside and screwing into the base of the cock, the top jaws each with an extension collar to give a longer bearing for the jaw-screw, walnut half-stock originally fitted with a cheek-pad, chequered grip, engraved iron mounts including signed trigger-guard engraved with a dog and a bird in a landscape and with large pineapple finial, silver barrel-bolt escutcheons, and later ramrod: in lined and fitted mahogany case, probably original, with some accessories, the lid with flush-fitting carrying handle, London proof marks
33.3.4in. barrels
Literature
W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, p. 181, plates 178-180