An Unusual 38-Bore Silver-Mounted Flintlock Sporting Rifle

An Unusual 38-Bore Silver-Mounted Flintlock Sporting Rifle
By John Innes, Plymouth, Exeter silver hallmarks for 1783 (?)
With browned two-stage sighted barrel cut with seven grooves and signed in a gold oval at the breech, gold breech line and gold-lined touch-hole, engraved tang, signed bevelled lock with stepped tail, roller and rainproof pan (cock retaining screw replaced), figured walnut half-stock (cracked below the lock), chequered grip, engraved silver mounts including trigger-guard with pineapple finial, horn fore-end cap, silver-mounted sliding patch-box cover, and iron ramrod, London proof marks, silver maker's mark JH, probably for Jason Holt
32in. (81.9cm.) barrel