BY JOHN 2 SHAW, LONDON, CIRCA 1680

Details

A Rare 120-Bore Breech-Loading Flintlock Sporting Bullet Gun
By John 2 Shaw, London, circa 1680
With turn-off barrel now expertly restored to its full length, with a ring at the muzzle bearing a bead fore-sight, the breech octagonal changing to sixteen-sided and with applied hooded peep-sight, scroll engraved tang, rounded lock engraved with foliage and a monster-head and signed 'I. Shawe (sic)', the cock with engraved dog catch, moulded blackened ash full stock with raised apron at the barrel tang and carved in relief with scrolls on the fore-stock, the latter attached by three screws, shaped iron mounts, and pierced flat side-plate engraved with monsters
32in. (81.3cm.) barrel

Literature

W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1540-1740, pp. 176-178, plates 55 a-d

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The barrel of this gun is locked by a bolt which slides into the iron plate at the rear of the fore-stock. The bolt can be withdrawn by pressing the trigger when the cock is held by the dog catch or is in the fired position. A similar system was employed by Harman Barne and other Civil War gunmakers, and by Henry Ellis of Doncaster
Cf. the carbine by Jonadab Holloway sold from the W. Keith Neal Collection in these Rooms, 9 November 2000, lot 91
For details of John 2 Shaw see footnote to lot 68

More from FINE ANTIQUE FIREARMS FROM THE W KEITH NEAL COLLECTION

View All