June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Round smoothbore barrel with British proof marks near breech on left side. Flat lockplate with doglock cock and safety. Barrel is retained by three wide brass bands. There is no trigger guard or buttplate, as is typical for seal hunting guns. Full length walnut stock with name "JOHN HUZZEY" inscribed in stock. Good condition barrel and lock have been cleaned and retain a spotted brown patina with some minor freckling and areas of heavy dark patina. The frizzen lock still functions well but the frizzen is missing. Brass bands retain an unpolished patina, stock is very good with one break near muzzle, a partial break down center of ramrod channel, some cracks on right side of buttstock and minor areas of losses and scattered marks from use. Missing ramrod. As stated in "The Newfoundland Sealing Gun" by G. Hamilton May, these were used in Canada. Most extensively in eastern Newfoundland and some parts of Nova Scotia. Most examples are muzzle loading doglocks and have barrels measuring about 60" in length. Both which are features of this gun. Probably made between 1800 and 1850. The long barrel was meant to increase the accurate range and no trigger guards were used so that the gun could still be operated with mittens in cold weather. The guns were English made and the barrels were made to withstand heavy charges.
Caliber/Bore
.73 smoothebore