BY LE COMTE A CHATEAUDUN, CIRCA 1785

Details

A Very Rare 24-Bore French Four-Barrelled Flintlock Sporting Gun
By Le Comte A Chateaudun, circa 1785
With two-stage barrels signed on the top rib, the two upper barrels each stamped at the rear of the breech with barrel-forger's mark of Jean Renette of Paris (Neue Støckel 8128) within traces of punched decoration, silver fore-sight, engraved grooved tang retained by two screws, four rounded border engraved locks each with internal steel-spring, the right pair inscribed 'Le Comte', and the left pair 'A Chateaudun', moulded figured walnut half-stock (some bruises, minor repairs) finely carved in relief with rococo ornament, vines, a cockerel, a trophy of the chase, and a fleur-de-lys, carved cheek-piece, engraved iron mounts, four triggers, iron sling swivels, and original iron-tipped bone ramrod housed in the centre of the barrel block (some wear and pitting, minor dents at the muzzles)
29¾in. (75.6cm.) barrels

Literature

Howard L. Blackmore, Guns and Rifles of the World, no. 495

Exhibited

The Game Fair, Longleat House, 1962

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The production of four-barrelled flintlock guns with fixed barrels and four locks appears to have been restricted to France. As they were of limited practical use, they were presumably intended for a collector's cabinet rather than for sport. The other signed examples known were made by Escallere and Bouillet (each of Paris), veuve Peyre Dubois et fils, Bonnand aîné, and Brossard (each of St. Etienne), and Regnier (of Semur). Less than ten have survived, nearly all of which are now in public collections

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