Lot Essay
Acquired after the publication of Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790 (1975)
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BY JOHN TWIGG, LONDON, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1783
Details
A Rare 20-Bore Silver-Mounted D.B. Flintlock Sporting Gun
By John Twigg, London, London silver hallmarks for 1783
With rebrowned twist barrels with silver fore-sight and top rib only, the left barrel with third form of signature, single gold line at each breech, and gold-lined touch-holes, finely engraved grooved tang, flat locks each retained by a screw passing the false breech, and each with roller, moulded border, stepped tail, and third form of signature, figured walnut half-stock (some repairs, staining, and minor damage), chequered grip (chequering refreshed) with a dot at the centre of each diamond, finely engraved silver mounts including trigger-guard with large pineapple finial, short front trigger, and brass-tipped ramrod (some wear, and some areas of rust-staining and surface pitting on the iron parts), London proof marks, silver maker's mark of Michael Barnett
35¾in. (90.8cm.) barrels
By John Twigg, London, London silver hallmarks for 1783
With rebrowned twist barrels with silver fore-sight and top rib only, the left barrel with third form of signature, single gold line at each breech, and gold-lined touch-holes, finely engraved grooved tang, flat locks each retained by a screw passing the false breech, and each with roller, moulded border, stepped tail, and third form of signature, figured walnut half-stock (some repairs, staining, and minor damage), chequered grip (chequering refreshed) with a dot at the centre of each diamond, finely engraved silver mounts including trigger-guard with large pineapple finial, short front trigger, and brass-tipped ramrod (some wear, and some areas of rust-staining and surface pitting on the iron parts), London proof marks, silver maker's mark of Michael Barnett
35¾in. (90.8cm.) barrels
Provenance
The armoury of the Nizams of Hyderabad, unusual among Indian armouries in containing a large number of European flintlocks until its dispersement in the late 1970s
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.