previously sold Gallery 3

39" Barrel Brown Bess Musket, .75" bore with very clear inspectors mark, British Proof marks and Heart Mark acceptance stamp of the British East India Company. Matching barrel and stock number 1090. Lock in excellent working order with EIC Rampant Lion mark and inspectors mark. Post 1809 throat hole flintcock. All correct regulation brass furniture of buttplate, recessed sideplate, ramrod pipes, fore end cap and triggerguard. Sling swivels fitted. Stock stamped with armoury number. Barrel is excellent externally polished armoury bright with clear proof/acceptance marks. All Lock parts are original, the lock is pitted but clean. All original brass furniture and sling swivels with nice patina. Stock in good condition with normal handling marks.    

Like others we have sold, this particular Brown Bess was in use late into the 20th century for ceremonial purposes in a North West province of India. The stock was darkened and the steel polished to achieve maximum effect on parade. A genuine and original EIC Bess.

SOLD

Continental Flintlock Sea Service pistol, circa 1810-1825, 15.75" overall, .70 bore 9" round barrel with strong Liege Proof mark. Brass butt cap with steel lanyard ring, brass trigger guard,fore end cap and barrel escutcheon. Rounded lockplate with inspectors mark, swan neck cock. Stock with makers mark. This type of Sea Service pistol was extensively used not only on the European Continent but also saw service with packet boats and customs vessels around the English coast and the rest of the world.

A very original sleeper with pleasing overall patina. No structural damage to stock but as is usual with these pistols which saw hard use, there are numerous handling marks.  

SOLD

A Very Good Regulation Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol by H Nock. 15½” overall, 16 bore 9” round barrel with proof marks and feint Ordnance inspection mark towards breech. Border engraved rounded lockplate signed H NOCK on tail and Crown over GR, border engraved cock, regulation furniture including lobed butt cap, brass trigger guard, side plate and ramrod pipe. Replacement ramrod. Stock with inspectors Crown mark on sideplate and further feint Crown mark to rear of lock plate. This is a very good example of a Regulation Light Dragoon pistol by one of the best gunmakers of the period.

Very good all original metalwork with crisp barrel proof marks. Excellent lock and markings. Stock is very good with normal handling marks but none of the normal splits.

SOLD

An original and sleepy flintlock pocket or muff pistol by Richards. Border engraved action marked RICHARDS on one side with floral engraving to the other side. 32 bore 2" long turn off barrel. Rounded breech with London proof marks. Folding trigger. Border engraved ring neck cock. Sprung frizzen with engraved sliding safety. Walnut flat sided butt with silver escutcheon engraved with flowers. Overall length 6 1/2". 

A real sleeper untouched with no restoration. Would grade up with a gentle clean. Metalwork is lightly pitted. Mechanically sound with working safety. Very little shrinkage to wood which has the normal handling marks but no splits.

SOLD

Joseph Egg, nephew of Durs Egg, is perhaps best known for his exquisite over and under flintlock and percussion Baby Eggs which rarely come onto the market and attract high prices. The period during which Joseph Egg made flintlocks in his own name was relatively short. He may have made a few (not Baby Eggs at this time) from his own premises in Great Windmill Street in 1800 but this was short lived as he formed a partnership with Henry Tatham the following year which lasted until 1814. At this time he recommenced trading in his own name from his shop at 1, Piccadilly on the opposite corner of Coventry Street/Haymarket - in fact directly opposite where his uncle Durs Egg had his premises between 1786-1804 (an Aberdeen Steak House in more recent times!).

Joseph Egg remained at 1, Piccadilly between 1814 - 1834 (his sons took over in 1835), it was during this period that he made his Baby Eggs, drawing upon the experience of the over and under flintlocks made in the Tatham and Egg period. The pistol being sold here was made soon after he recommenced work in his own name (shortly before the Battle of Waterloo) as within a few years his production of pistols soon switched to percussion with the exception of over and under pistols and cased duelling pistols which he continued to make in flintlock form for fashionable clients.

The pistol is 15 inches overall with a 9 inch barrel of Carbine bore (.65). The barrel is round but with a top flat which runs the whole length of the barrel. The barrel has a blade style fore sight with a V shaped rear sight and is marked London on the top flat. A captive stirrup ramrod is attached. The original lock has a roller frizzen with a semi rainproof, slightly raised pan. The finely engraved lockplate, which is signed in full JOSEPH EGG LONDON, has a sliding safety and characteristic 'wheat ear' border engraving. The throat hole flintcock has matching engraving with a squared off top jaw. The frizzen has matching border engraving. The fine engraving is matched on the tang and the trigger guard which also depicts a curled serpent. The walnut stock has a beautifully diamond chequered fish tail shaped butt with the characteristic Egg diamond with a cross in the centre of each diamond. Very original and in sleepy condition. The metalwork has an even patina with the lockplate (excellent action) in particularly good condition. The barrel has a small area of pitting between 5-6 inches down the barrel which from our experience is often caused by being kept in a holster. The wood is in very fine condition with very crisp profiles particularly around the lock and the barrel with the diamond chequered butt being a superb example of its type.

SOLD

Flintlock Mail Coach Blunderbuss with top sprung bayonet by Dunderdale Mabson and Labron of 25 Russell Street, Birmingham circa 1820 (Heer Der Neue Stockel Vol I, p.317: English Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers by Merwyn Carey p.26). 17" flared brass barrel measuring 1.5" internally at muzzle with octagonal breech section engraved on top flat under spring bayonet RIC'M'ND - YORK MAIL COACH. Full length Waters patent top sprung bayonet released by sliding catch on tang. Good quality all original lock with swan neck cock with border engraving, roller frizzen and border engraved lockplate engraved Dunderdale Mabson & Labron. Engraved brass triggerguard with acorn finial, brass ramrod pipes and barrel bolt escutcheons, engraved brass sideplate and brass buttcap engraved with a stand of arms. Iron ramrod and walnut stock.

Brass barrel in excellent condition. Good patina to brass triggerguard, ramrod pipes, barrel bolt escutcheons and buttplate. Steel parts with minor pitting commensurate with use and age. Working lock. Spring bayonet mechanism worn but original and in working condition. The stock is in very good condition considering its use with very minor losses and handling marks, small wood loss at top of tang, one small inset repair on reverse of stock and a very minor fracture forward of lock.

An unusual Mail Coach variant which was used for the Mail Coach between the busy Georgian market town of Richmond and York in the second quarter of the 19th century. It is unusual to have the towns named rather than a number on the barrel. Numbers are the norm but can be confusing as they often do not relate to a route number but are now thought in some cases to relate to the sequential number of manufacture.

SOLD

1846 Regulation Issue Sea Service Percussion Pistol. With 6" long, 25 bore barrel with various proof and ordnance inspectors stamps & captive ramrod. Lock marked with Crown over VR, Tower 1846. Walnut stock with regulation brass mounts complete with belt hook with inspectors stamp &  iron lanyard loop on butt. 

 Normal handling wear to stock with excellent barrel and markings. Original lock in excellent condition.     

SOLD

A good quality Flintlock Box-Lock Pocket Pistol by Durs Egg of London, circa 1800. 50 bore turn-off barrel 1.8 inches long engraved with a slender band of foliage around the breech. Rounded breech signed D EGG LONDON on one side and engraved with long ribbon and starburst on each side under frizzen, border engraved action finely decorated with a differing trophy of arms on each side, thumbpiece safety-catch engraved with a starburst and also locking the frizzen, ring-neck cock engraved with a serpent on each side, folding trigger within a foliage engraved border. Sprung roller frizzen with fine heart and border engraving. Tang and trigger guard screw heads engraved and finished in line which is always a good sign of quality. Finely figured walnut flat sided butt. Tower private proof marks. Overall length 6 inches. 

Good even patina to all metal parts, crisp proof marks and engraving, some minor pitting. Some wear to London signature on frame. Trigger correctly unfolds when action is cocked but is a little loose when folded back in recess. Sliding safety engages correctly at half cock. Sprung frizzen tight and excellent working condition. None of the normal stock shrinkage between frame and butt. Some minor handling marks to butt. 

An above average condition pistol by one of the best gunmakers of the period.

SOLD

25 Bore Percussion Coastguard Pistol of regulation type by George H Daw with regulation brass mounts. Plain barrel with proof marks and signed in full along the top (signature worn but looks like GEORGE H.DAW 57 THREADNEEDLE STREET LONDON). Tang incorporating a rear sight. Lock plate with border engraving and "George H Daw". Iron lanyard loop and captive stirrup ramrod.

Plain barrel with good but slightly pitted surface - see photograph, central barrel inscription is worn. Mechanically sound with working stirrup captive ramrod. Stock is complete and in overall good condition with minor bruising. Iron parts in good condition with some minor pitting.

SOLD

A good quality pair of 48 bore flintlock pocket/muff pistols by W Richards circa 1815. Smooth bore 1.5" turn off barrels with crisp proof marks. Engraved throat hole flintlock boxlock actions marked W Richards and London with sprung frizzen and sliding safety. Slab sided walnut grips. Overall length 6.25". The good quality and date of these pistols indicate that the W Richards may be the early production of Westley Richards. 

 Very good condition. Stocks are good with virtually no shrinkage next to action and a few minor handling marks. Mechanically sound. Wood to metal fit excellent. Grey patina to all metalwork with minor staining. Crisp proofs. Barrels very good tight fit but unscrew easily.

SOLD

Rare Swedish Model 1704 Flintlock Pistol dated 1711. Tapering sighted .650 calibre, 16 bore three stage 14" barrel with excellent ordnance proof marks and date of 1711 within rectangular stamp. Original regulation lock and triggerguard with impressed marks. Original trigger, ramrod pipe, ramrod and side nails. Blackened stock with non original butt cap. Overall length 20.75". The market price at auction for a Swedish 1704 Model flintlock is circa £3,500 - £4,000. See Thomas Del Mar auction 27 June 2012, Lot 447, price inc commission around £3,850 (please note that the photo for the 1704 pistol was shown with lot 446 by mistake). A mint example of this pistol is held by the Swedish Army Museum.

This is a restoration project due to the non original buttcap which is just a plain nasty later replacement! Nevertheless, the original parts on this pistol are a rare find. The stock looks like a Swedish period replacement. The stock for these Swedish pistols was invariably made from a light wood (possibly Arctic Birch like some of their Brown Bess?) and then darkened so splicing in a long eared buttcap is possible without detracting from the overall excellent condition of the rest of the pistols all original metal parts which have a smooth grey patina. Minor pitting to lock and triggerguard. Lock all original and mechanically sound with wear to the pan.

SOLD

A finely made steel and brass Miniature Wheel Lock Puffer Pistol made in the late 20th century in the Nuremberg style of circa 1630. All steel stock in the style/shape of miniatures made by the renowned period miniaturist Michael Mann of Nuremburg (1590-1630) - see this link for an example. Stock is very finely hand engraved with animal heads on each side, serpents at muzzle fore end, grotesque masks, wreaths, tendrils and seated figures holding a helm (for identical engraving see Art of the Gunmaker by Hayward, plate 62b - a sheet of period designs for wheel locks circa 1657 by C. Jacquinet). Staged brass barrel with octagonal breech section, touch hole and engraved top flat, barrel length 2.15 inches. Finely made lock with enclosed finely grooved wheel and sprung loaded dog which has engraved eyes to the jaws. Sliding steel pan. Puffer style butt with steel ball enclosed in a brass wire cage. Brass and steel ramrod. Brass trigger guard enclosing twist engraved steel trigger. Overall length 4.6 inches.

Please note : Wheel Lock mechanism is in working condition but one chain link only is fitted which limits winding up the wheel to slightly less than a quarter of a revolution of the wheel (full size wheel locks wind to around half to three quarters of a turn). Pan is manually pulled back over grooved wheel after winding up wheel and dog/hammer is moved from safe fully reclined position to resting on top of sliding pan. Pulling trigger slides pan forward by means of a cam in the internal mechanism and wheel rotates slightly. A pin is supplied for deactivating the internal mechanism completely but it has been removed as the breech plug extends into the barrel covering the touch hole so the pistol cannot be fired. A key for winding the lock is present. Ramrod is slightly bent but if it was completely straight then it would be loose in its housing.

A unique piece of craftsmanship. This would have taken hundreds of hours to make and is the modern equivalent of an apprentice piece. The engraving is the best we have seen on such a miniature.

SOLD

Excellent and Rare Original Joseph Manton Case for a Flintlock, Caplock, Tubelock or Patchlock Shotgun or Rifle (all were being made by Joseph Manton in 1820 - see The Mantons, Gunmakers by W Keith Neal and D H L Back). All original lining and complete with all original furniture, lock and key. Original label for 11 Hanover Square dates the case as made between 1820-1825. Case is made to take a 30" barrel. Original cases in this condition are becoming extremely scarce.

Internal dimensions are 30.5 " long, 8" wide, 2.25 " deep. 

Totally original and excellent condition with all compartments intact and even the lift out ribbon for the stock. Some foxing to label and some handling marks to case lid. 

SOLD

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. 

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'.

SOLD

25 Bore 1840 Tower Marked Percussion Coastguard Pistol with regulation brass mounts. Lock with "V.R." crowned and "Tower 1840". Full walnut stock with worn inspectors marks. Iron lanyard loop and captive stirrup ramrod. Plain barrel complete with proof marks. Plain barrel with good even patina, ordnance view and proof marks. Mechanically sound with working stirrup captive ramrod. Stock is complete and in overall good condition with some original and good inlay replacement around the lock plate. Belt clip is missing. 

SOLD

Colt 1851 Model Navy Revolver. .36 calibre, s/n 183052 manufactured in 1865. Superb ivory grips which may not be original to pistol but are definitely period so do not contravene CITES regulations. It is now difficult to find period ivories in good condition and whilst around 250,000 model 1851 Navy were made it is also becoming increasingly difficult to ship these revolvers across borders due to shipping and other restrictions. 

Generally worn overall in appearance although mechanically sound. No cylinder scene but matching number on cylinder. All matching numbers except wedge. Rammer looks to have been chemically cleaned and could be improved. Brass backstrap and triggerguard with approx 5-10% original silver finish. Ivory grips excellent with minimal shrinkage. New York address on barrel is worn but clear except the letters ddr in address.

SOLD

A mid 18th Century silver mounted Scottish Skean Dhu. Overall length 7.2" with part serrated 3.8" blade with excellent large hand cut Cairngorm stone on top silver mount. Traditional carved wood with metal pins between silver mounts. The dealer who supplied this Skean Dhu stated he obtained it, together with a pistol and sword, from a family on one of the Scottish Islands who in turn said that it had reputedly belonged to a family member from the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. The construction of the scabbard can clearly be seen due to its condition and indicates that mid 18th century origin would not be inappropriate. 

Leather scabbard shows age wear and heavy use - good on one side but split on the other side. Bottom chape is missing. Blade is pitted and stained. Tip damaged.

SOLD

A  late 18th century brass barrelled flintlock blunderbuss with spring bayonet. Two stage brass octagon to round bell mouth barrel 14.5” long with banded intersection, top flat engraved “Dublin Castle” with 12½” top spring bayonet released by a thumb catch on the breech tang (action requires new spring).  Border engraved stepped lockplate with flat swan neck cock, roller frizzen, lockplate signed “DENNING”. Strong working action with all original parts. Walnut fullstock with slight damage to stock and tang around mounting screw. Brass mounts, including flower engraved trigger guard with acorn finial, engraved butt plate tang, ramrod pipes and side nail cups. Original horn tipped ramrod with iron worm.  Overall length 30.5".

Henry Denning is recorded in Heer Der Neue Stockel as working in Sherborne Dorset circa 1797. Whilst it is possible that is was made in Dorset for Dublin Castle, the characteristics of this blunderbuss indicate a slightly earlier date so it may well be that Henry Denning worked in Ireland before moving to Sherborne. There is a link between a Henry Denning and Earl Digby of Sherborne Castle as a local Henry Denning metalworker is known to have completed iron gates at the castle circa 1789-1790.  Edward Digby 2nd Earl Digby was also Baron Digby of Ireland 1793-1856 preceded by his brother Henry Digby. The other explanation is that the engraving may be spurious but it looks period.