March 1-2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2018
Circa 1770 blunderbuss by well-known quality English gunsmith John Parkes. Brass three-stage blunderbuss barrel with flared muzzle and marked on left side of breech with Birmingham proofs. Tang and breech decorated with engraved scrolls. Top of barrel features a triangular steel spring bayonet of 10" with brass and steel release mounted on top of breech. Engraved flat steel lockplate decorated with scrolls and marked "PARKES" in center, half-cock sliding safety behind cock. Engraved brass furniture includes sideplate decorated with scrolls, triggerguard with acorn finial, vacant relief-cast wrist escutcheon, and an engraved buttplate tang. Partially figured walnut stock of typical 18th century English form with shell inlaid in silver wire around barrel tang. Steel-tipped wooden ramrod. Barrel and furniture have been cleaned and have some wear and light scattered marks. Ramrod ferrules with some minor denting and triggerguard has small area of loss on right side of bow. Lock has been cleaned and is in original flintlock configuration, now retains a polished surface with some light freckling and wear. Stock has scattered marks from use and a few period repairs and right side has a portion replaced, probably when manufactured. Much of silver inlay is now missing. A very attractive Revolutionary War period blunderbuss.