October 30, 2019 The Collection of Steve & Marcy Hench
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2019
Three-stage smoothbore barrel marked on left side of breech with three British proofmarks, one for John Williams who worked between 1700 and 1731. Large banana lockplate with partially visible "Cookson" in center, crudely converted to Percussion during its period of use. Lock is retained by three screws. The brass furniture includes a sheet brass buttplate, well-engraved sea serpent sideplate, early sea-service type triggerguard and two early turned ramrod ferrules. This is the earliest known form of the serpent sideplates in the trade gun venue. The fowler was made without an entry ferrule. The full-stock is of club-butt form and has a relief carved beavertail around the barrel tang. Complete with period pewter-tipped wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Completely as found and untouched. Lock and barrel retain a heavy brown patina and show some areas of minor corrosion, especially around breech and on lockplate. Brass retains an unpolished patina, buttplate tang was broken and re-attached. Stock shows a period finish with dark surface and a section of the forend replaced during the period of use. Some minor losses around barrel tang. A very untouched early trade fowler with excellent architecture. According to page 86 of "Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970" by S. James Gooding, Buccaneer guns were obviously used by the HBC but no documented purpose for their has been found and no survivors have been identified. Perhaps this is the only surviving example.
Caliber/Bore
.70 Smoothbore