Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3674
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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Mate dropped off this muzzle-loading shotgun today for me to admire for a while, one of the most interesting percussion guns I've seen in years. Hope you enjoy it too!
The gun is a single-barrel shotgun a little smaller than 12-bore, with solid silver furniture throughout. It's only real fault is a broken ear on the hammer, the ram-rod is missing (as usual!), and the iron has been let go a little at some stage.
This photo shows the lock-plate and conventional British period engraving. Complete with platinum pressure-plug of course. Top London maker too. Very nice.
Here is the lower guard and tang, showing the extent of the silver-smithing.
Here is a close-up of the hall-marks, hopefully someone here is familiar with these markings and can shed some light on the silver-smith or perhaps a rough date for when the work was done.
Ever seen a finial like this before? Sure beats the usual 'pine-apple'! I'm guessing it's a lotus. Spectacular! The silver-work is quite thick and heavy, probably amounting to a pound or so of solid silver in total!
Detail of the engraving on the trigger-guard.
Even the fore-end cap, or ferrule?, is more of the same, exquisitely engraved with rose boquet!
The butt-plate is another solid lump of pure silver....
Plain with border-engraving on the butt, although the hall-marks are once again prominent.
...and the butt-plate tang is simply magnificent!
Muzzle-loaders don't feature prominently in my collection, but after examining this marvellous example I'm beginning to re-think my priorities!
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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Double_Trouble
.375 member
Reged: 27/04/06
Posts: 577
Loc: Canada
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What an outstanding piece!
after re-thinking your priorities are you admiring or purchasing it? lol
thanks for posting .... great photos!
DT
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Double Trouble,
Speak not of what you do not know.
Listen up when it's time to.
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2471
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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Lets http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html
The lion means Sterling .925.
Use the link to ID the rest. I tried to blow your picture up but it pixelated to badly to make out.
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DD, Ret.
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peter
removed
Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark
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ahhh marrakai
you do find the nicest toys around, dd is right the lion is the mark of british silver. i do think the style of the art is almost germanic but non the less empressive piece of art your friend is lucky. makes me consider going down under again on a toy finding mission and some pig shooting...
peter
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Quote:
ahhh marrakai
makes me consider going down under again on a toy finding mission
peter
In your dreams - we have a severe drought at the moment
- both in terms of lack of rain and good guns !!!
I get a phone call every 2 weeks from around Australia
chasing any DR's and English shotguns.
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peter
removed
Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark
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then come to denmark, an accuintance of mine got what is one of the biggest collections of english shotguns and rifles in europe and the good part is that he does this for a buisness. the holland and holland 1910 catalog on this site is from his shops homepage, i think he got between 4-600 english guns stored at the moment, he does know what he want for them though.
peter
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3674
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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DD:
Thanks for the details on that site, brilliant! I'll get into it a bit more tomorrow. Looks like London Sterling alright. The crowned leopard makes it pre-1822, and that style of letter 'C' puts it at 1818. Assuming 'I-H' are the silver-smith's initials, the artisan is most likely James Hyde of London, whose mark was registered in 1777.
The owner will be very interested to hear this I'm sure! Thanks again, DD, and thanks all for your appreciative comments.
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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pato
.300 member
Reged: 26/04/05
Posts: 212
Loc: Katherine NT
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pato
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40466
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Remember this old thread. Nice old silver embellishments.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27509
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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John Blissett is a well known maker of fine guns.
I have a lock and a 12" piece of 12 bore that was from the Blissett gun (no other parts) that I was going to re-line and turn into a pistol - maybe some day. Blissett locks are beautiful inside and out.
Nice!
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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pato
.300 member
Reged: 26/04/05
Posts: 212
Loc: Katherine NT
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daney
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SAHUNT
Sponsor
Reged: 27/12/04
Posts: 900
Loc: Centurion, RSA
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They say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder - This is very very soft on my eyes - BEAUTIFUL
Now that I am a grandfather I will offer the proverbial left b___ for it.
What a master piece
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Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience
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ducmarc
.400 member
Reged: 14/07/14
Posts: 1207
Loc: fla
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thats really nice and from the early 1800s do u think it was a flintlock and then converted?for a little boot can you pry off the nose cap? i want one like that for my trapdoor sporting rifle.
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'killed by death' Lemmy.. ' boil the dog ' Elvis Manywounds "my best friend is my magnum forty four" hank willams the third.
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Grenadier
.375 member
Reged: 20/02/08
Posts: 570
Loc: North of the Columbia, USA
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I like it!
That's quite a contrast to today's tactical black, plastic furniture.
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~
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