Date: 1818, converted to tube lock circa 1825
Maker: William Smith, London. Converted to tubelock by Charles Moore of London
A fine cased 20 bore double barrel shotgun by William Smith of London serial number 2583 for June 1818 converted from flintlock to tubelock by Charles Moore of London circa 1825. 28" barrels with flat central rib signed in gold W SMITH, LONDON with tube lock platinum lined touch hole breech fitted by Charles Moore engraved with central starburst and platinum poincons signed C MOORE, LONDON, PATENT. Original brass tipped ramrod with captive worm. Border engraved locks with fine foliate engraving signed C Moore, London. Stock with finely checkered wrist, barrel channel with feint matching serial number of 2583 and stock makers stamp of EA. Escutcheon on wrist of stock with initials and crest of Sir Thomas Hanbury. Matching engraved furniture including tang and trigger guard with double triggers. In original William Smith case with excellent condition typical blue Smith lining and very good original Smith of Leicester Square label - one of the best labels of the period. Case with fitted contents including 3 piece cleaning rod, working Hawksley Stag and Leaves flask, Sykes patent shot belt with Irish charger, powder measure, tin containing very rare tubes for lock under lockplate compartment and a patent collapsible gilt stirrup cup in matching blue velvet lined watch style case. Case has a compartment lid marked Mr Smith 26th June 1818.
Condition report: Fine barrels with good original colour, excellent bores and gold inlaid makers signature with no gold losses. Sharp engraving to lockplates and furniture. Excellent stock with some handling marks but fine condition with sharp checkering. Case lining original with some period modification when converted to tube lock. Flask has no significant dents, tubes in excellent condition. Gilding in stirrup cup faded but would clean to fine condition.
This a beautifully balanced rare high quality Charles Moore tube lock conversion of a William Smith flintlock probably originally owned by a member of the Hanbury family who passed it down to Thomas Hanbury 1832-1907, later knighted and amongst other claims to fame, donated the 60 acre gardens at Wisley to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903. Hanbury made his fortune in China buying up large tracts of land in China from 1853 onwards and became the largest property owner in Shanghai. His shooting exploits are covered in his published letters see page 102 and pages 104-105. A biography of his interesting life, La Mortola, also mentions that 'Thomas was a keen shot and spent many hours roaming Common (Clapham) with a gun shooting rabbits'.
