July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2022
This finely decorated blunderbuss has an octagonal to round barrel with strong evidence of Damascus twist, especially towards muzzle, with a beaded wedding ring at girdle. Swamped muzzle with a beaded ring. Octagonal section of barrel is inlaid with silver tendrils and has poincons over the breech depicting a cross, three fleur-de-lis, and makers mark which is difficult to read, but has "RAP" and a surmounted crown clearly visible. A second cross en suite with the first is stamped on tang. Flintlock has Spanish styled florals with scalloped edges, and "LLVIS DE" under pan, possibly a maker (L. Luis?). Bridled brass pan, serrated pan face, swan neck cock with miquelet stype topjaw screw. Ambidextrous sling bar with sparse floral embossed designs. Brass tipped ramrod, possibly the original, retained by a single ferule and feeding into a reinforced mouth. Reinforced mouth has a wriggle work design, while ferrule is decorated with hashmarks and is a possible period replacement. Brass trigger guard with Spanish scalloped edge florals en suite with lock, acorn finial at front and urn finial at back. Large thumbpiece with a brass frame surrounding a silver design, which appears to be a helmeted warrior oriented with his neck towards the barrel. Other inlays include 4 suns with faces and a crowned dragon with a long body. Silver floral piece on comb. Brass buttplace engraved en suite with other furniture. CONDITION: Overall very good. Barrel is an even mixture of gunmetal grey and a light chocolate patina, with tendrils tarnished (easily cleaned should the new owner wish). Brass has a lovely deep golden patina. Engraving is crisp throughout. Remnants of gilt is visible in poincon and sling bar embossing. Mechanically fine, bore is excellent with a minimum of patina. A very pleasing example that would have been astonishing when it was in full dress. EMW