SCOTTISH 18TH CENTURY FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSS

A RARE 18TH CENTURY SCOTTISH BRASS MOUNTED IRON BLUNDERBUSS BY FRANCIS INNES OF EDINBURGH

A rare iron barrel brass mounted blunderbuss circa 1775 by Francis Innes of Edinburgh. Octagonal 16 1/2in. iron barrel with flared round trumpet muzzle banded at the intersection, some pitting to top flat. Makers address to top flat of barrel - indistinct due to pitting but clearly name or address followed by EDINBURGH with proof marks and barrel makers stamp to breech. Flat lockplate with stepped pointed tail signed within banner 'F. INNES', plain frizzen, swan neck cock, some pitting but all original. Walnut handrail full-stock with exposed muzzle, some old well executed spliced/inset repairs to stock. Brass furniture including rococo escutcheon to wrist, pierced sideplate shaped with flowers (complete with no losses), acorn finial, flower engraved trigger guard, ramrod pipe and interesting buttplate with bird engraving (wings displayed) above top screw, brass tipped ebony ramrod. Bird engraving to buttplate may be decorative or with further research may reveal owner if unique. 

Innes, Francis [1772-1789] (Scottish Arms Makers by Whitelaw)

Shop in Edinburgh, Scotland. Had Royal Warrant. Made all metal flintlock pistols with scroll butt and cased flintlock duelling pistols, also made single and double barrel flintlock fowling pieces and Ferguson flintlock breech-loading rifles. Had Royal Government contract for flintlock holster pistols and flintlock muskets.(A. Merwyn Carey (1954) English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers, Acro Publishing Company, New York. )

AN 1844 ENFIELD PERCUSSION CAVALRY PISTOL 

This pistol is unusual and interesting as it is the 1853 EIC Pattern Percussion Cavalry Pistol but fitted with an ENFIELD marked lock dated 1844. This may have been an experimental fitting as the lock is marked with the Crown over V.R. to the rear of the lock similar to the subsequent Enfield pistol pattern 1856 lock as opposed to the 1844 Enfield lock fitted to the 1844 Cavalry Carbine which had the Crown over VR marking under the bolster, thus probably  eliminating a retrofitted Enfield lock to this particular pistol. Apart from the lock, this is a typical EIC 1853 Pattern .65 pistol with 9” barrel stamped with London proofs. Brass mounted full walnut stock, lanyard ring to butt and swivel rammer hinged to muzzle. Sidecups for lock screws as opposed to the sideplate of earlier models.

As the Pattern 1853 was an upgrade of the earlier Pattern 1840 with the New Series lock, the fitting of an 1844 Enfield lock with these markings is unusual to say the least. An interesting pistol worthy of further research, condition is uncleaned and original.

 A FINE AND VERY RARE CASED 32 BORE TRANTER PATENT (THIRD MODEL) FIVE SHOT DOUBLE ACTION PERCUSSION REVOLVING RIFLE, SERIAL NO. 17,712T 

RETAILED BY ALEXANDER THOMSON & SON, 16 UNION PLACE, EDINBURGH CIRCA 1864

With octagonal browned (original) damascus twist barrel 23.5" long signed in full by the retailer and rifled with five grooves, the barrel and rifling in near mint original condition. Blued bead fore-sight and standing notch rear sight marked for 50 yards with two additional folding leaf sights marked for 100 and 150 yards, sling eye beneath barrel. Bright 5 shot cylinder numbered 17712T with decorative roped band at the front edge, border line engraving to rear of cylinder and clear Birmingham Proof marks. Case-hardened border engraved frame with nipple-shield fitted to the left side, blued (traces remaining) border engraved hammer-shroud, button style arbor pin/latch with safety stop/cylinder safety-stop, 3rd Model Tranter patent rammer marked W TRANTERS PATENT. Small initials on frame behind rammer of 'HH''. Frame marked on right side W. 

TRANTERS. PATENT.  No. 17712T. Very nicely figured Walnut stock in near mint condition with crisp chequering and sling eye fitted. Trigger-guard  with scrolled front edge, typical Tranter double trigger mechanism, border engraved butt-plate. Retaining traces of original finish throughout with pleasing patina and with strong barrel browning. The rifle style trigger guard was designed so both hands could be kept behind cylinder - the hammer shroud to protect user from fragments of percussion cap - both these features designed to minimise the risk of injury from shards of lead or a multiple discharge.

In original fitted mahogany case lined in green baize (original with no apparent repairs) with many accessories including a spare matching numbered cylinder, brass double-cavity bullet mould marked 32, cleaning rod with captive worm, a DIXON & SON PATENT rifle flask (a few very minor dents), a Japanned tin of Tranter 'Lubricating Composition' and one of  'Lubricating Bullets', an original Eley Bag of percussion caps, a James Dixon & Son marked circular percussion capper, a James Dixon & Sons glass oil bottle in container, a pewter grease bottle, turnscrew, nipple wrench, bone box with spare nipples, some cast bullets, a leather sling and a key for the case lock. The lid of the case with Alexander Thomson & Son original trade label, the exterior with flush-fitting brass carrying-handle and centre escutcheon, inset front fastening hooks and circular brass key escutcheon. Case has a crack to the lid but structurally sound - see photographs. Overall length of case is 43.75". 

Provenance: Ex Happy Valley Museum, Cooma (Snowy River), Australia - Neville Locker collection. These revolving rifles found favour in Australia where the English Tranter were preferred to the American Colt. It is estimated that around 70% of production of Colt and Adams revolving rifles were exported to Australia so it is not unreasonable to assume that the same percentage of Tranter revolving rifles were also exported there.

The retailer Alexander Thomson established his business in 1820 and in 1828 he was appointed 'Gunmaker to his Majesty' (King George IV).  In 1833 he moved to 16 Union Place where he remained until 1869. From 1863-1869 the firm became Alexander Thomson & Son. (W Keith Neal - British Gunmakers, Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment 1760-1860)

NOTES:  Tranter was a prolific, innovative, quality gunmaker and a substantial property owner, a founder/shareholder in BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Co. Ltd.- a Director in its early years) and a prominent member of the Birmingham small arms trade. Although there is no definitive list of years of manufacture for particular serial numbers, The Firearms Tecnology Museum website records a Tranter serial number  6820T with a receipt for 1863 and a Tranter 19882T presented in 1865 so it is not unreasonable to conclude that 17712T was 1864.  The "T" suffix began circa 1854. This suffix is not normally found on 1st model revolvers. 3rd and 4th models started approx 7000T.  It was normal practice to describe the diameter of the bore in bore size rather than calibre back in the day. The bore size being the number of round lead balls of that diameter needed to weigh one pound. The most common ones used by Tranter were 120 bore (.320"), 80 bore (.380"), 54 bore (.442"), 38 bore (.500") and 24 bore (.577"). This 32 bore example is a very rare variant with only a few examples known.

This is a snapshot from the Tranter Database at The Firearms Technology Museum, an excellent reference source showing this rare cased 3rd Model 5 shot large bore (32B) Revolving Rifle;

Serial No. 17712T      Model 3rd model      Type p rif

Calibre 32 B      No of shots  5      Barrel length 23.5"
Retailed by     Thomson., Alex. & Son.   16 Union Place. Edinburgh
Mould numbered 32 (bore size). engraved on cylinder & spare cylinder; Spring loaded knob arbor
retainer; Frame type "A"; Borderline engraved; Blued.

Provenance:  This item also illustrated and described in the definitive book “The Firearms of William Tranter - Birmingham Gunsmith" by Ron Stewart, 

two illustrations page 85, description page 86, colour illustrations and description pages 228, 229.

A 16 BORE SCOTTISH RAMSHORN BUTT FLINTLOCK BELT PISTOL FORMED ENTIRELY OF STEEL BY MILLS OF LONDON SUPPLIED BY GEORGE HUNTER OF EDINBURGH CIRCA 1822

A highly interesting large bore Scottish Belt Pistol made by William Mills of London circa 1822 with barrel inscription of George Hunter of Edinburgh.  Please see my blog “Sir Walter Scott and George Hunter re-invent Scottish Traditions”.

Four stage 16 bore barrel 6.75" long with retailers address “RETAILED BY GEORGE HUNTER, SUPPLIER MERCHANT & MILITARY CONTRACTOR, EDINBURGH”. Bead front sight. Original ramrod. Flat border engraved lockplate with scrolls and signature of “MILLS”. Matching engraved throat hole cock, semi rainproof pan, border engraved roller frizzen. Trigger button and scroll butt pricker with silver overlay and petal engraving. Engraved and pierced belt hook. All steel stock with ramshorn scroll  butt,  large  vacant silver escutcheon  to  backstrap, frame  engraved with scrolls, stand of arms to each side and thistles. Overall length 11.25".

All original, pistol has been cleaned bright at some stage. Excellent working action. 

William Mills , Gunmaker, (formerly Apprenticed to William Parker) was in business in 1821 at 59 Judd Street, Brunswick Sq. and between 1822-43 was at 120 High Holborn with a factory at 1 King Street. He was appointed gunmaker to King George IV in 1830. The barrel inscription of George Hunter makes it highly probable that this was one of the pistols commissioned to supply demand for the visit to Scotland of King George IV to Edinburgh in August 1822.

George Hunter was an army contractor, military outfitter and supplier based at 25 Princes Street, Edinburgh and Tokenhouse Yard, London. He was retained by Sir Walter Scott, organiser of the Kings visit in 1822, to supply various outfits for the pageant and Scottish Pistols were one of the items required for this ‘re-invention’ of Highland Dress to accompany the new Clan Tartans created for the occasion. 1822 was Hunters last year of trading.  

A large flintlock heavy dragoon horse pistol 15 bore/.675",  13" octagonal to round with top flat and long brass bead fore sight. Integral tang with inspectors marking and grooved rear sight. No marks visible on barrel - underneath barrel not removed/inspected.  Barrel has been converted to percussion in period but would be an easy reconversion to flint. Lock is missing - lockplate recess is  5.5" long by 1" height. Ramrod is missing. All iron furniture consisting of heavy ridged long eared butt cap, military type sideplate, ramrod pipe, trigger guard and trigger assembly present. Walnut stock is largely complete with some losses, feint 1771 marking under the stock and other markings which may be regimental. Carved raised comb around tang.

Overall length 20.5”. Whilst marked 1771, this pistol may well be earlier. Highly probable that it was used in the American Revolution. An impressive pistol.