BY JOSEPH EGG, NO. 1 PICCADILLY, LONDON, NO. 2932, CIRCA 1826

Details

A Very Rare Cased 18-Bore D.B. Self-Priming Pellet-Lock Sporting Gun
By Joseph Egg, No. 1 Piccadilly, London, No. 2932, circa 1826
With rebrowned twist barrels signed 'Joseph Egg. Patent. No. 1 Piccadilly. London' on the rib and fitted with tubular pellet magazine on each side of the rib at the rear, silver fore-sight, case-hardened patent breeches engraved at the centre and each with screw-in iron plug (right vent damaged), long case-hardened tang engraved with scrollwork on a matted ground, serial numbered rounded case-hardened back-action locks each signed 'Joseph Egg Patent' and engraved with scrollwork, one decorated with pheasants, and the other with a pointer, the hammers each with detachable nose, finely figured walnut half-stock (minor bruising), chequered grip, engraved iron mounts retaining some reblued finish and including trigger-guard decorated with a pointer, gold barrel-bolt escutcheons, and original brass-mounted ramrod (forward ramrod-pipe detached): in lined and fitted mahogany case (cracked and repaired, partitions incomplete), with some accessories including a glass bottle of pellets, and a leather-covered etui containing two spare pistons for the magazines, the lid with trade label for circa 1822-1835, and flush-fitting carrying handle with circular escutcheon, London proof marks
30in. (76.2cm) barrels

Provenance

Charles Greener, son of W.W. Greener
Acquired by Keith Neal in Boxmoor, his place of birth, in about 1948

Literature

Lewis Winant, Early Percussion Firearms, p. 69, plate 33
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment 1760-1860, plate 356

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Sold with a typewritten note giving details of Joseph Egg's self-priming pellet-lock guns, which were made in very limited numbers as they were considered dangerous. The original Joseph Egg patent is No. 4727 of 26 November 1822, but the present gun appears to conform to his improved patent of 6 May 1835 (No. 6829), as the magazines are attached to the barrels. A somewhat different example of the system (No. 3004) was sold from the W. Keith Neal Collection in these Rooms, 8 November 1995, Lot 29. The note in the case states that the two such guns at that time in his collection 'are the only examples I have encountered anywhere'

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