AMER WINTER 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.
17th CENTURY COLONIAL ERA DOG-LOCK LONG FOWLER.Quite rare are examples of dog-lock Long Fowlers that were utilized by the first colonists in America. The first colonists in Jamestown and Plymouth utilized match-locks but by 1630, the transition to dog-locks had became in earnest. The common arms supplied by the Massachusetts Bay Company are known to have contained 6-1/2' long fowling pieces, which this gun measures. This information is published by Harold Peterson on page 44 of his 1956 Arms and Armor in Colonial America. The only markings on this gun are a hand engraved "29/F" on breech which could represent the year 1629. "Judging from the number of dog-locks used in Colonial America that are still extant today, it would appear that type of lock was more widely used than any other from about 1625-1675. Dog-locks and parts of dog-locks have been found in quantity in the excavations of 17th Century sites, and several well preserved and well authenticated specimens exist in public and private collections throughout the country". Few arms in this configuration have ever been publicly offered in auction, especially retaining this massive 62" octagonal breech 75 caliber barrel which tapers to round and then terminates in an octagonal flared muzzle. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Estate of Siro R. Toffolon, of Old Lyme, CT. CONDITION: Forestock is restored from muzzle back 39" as are ramrod pipes and ramrod. Otherwise, gun is good, sound, iron patina. Stock has large chip forward of lock and long hairline crack about 10" forward lock on right side. Mechanism appears functional. 49597-13 JS (2,000-4,000)