May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
For a signed example with nearly identical form and furniture, see plate NE 8 on page 40 of "Flintlock Fowlers: The First Guns Made in America" by Tom Grinslade. The example shown in the book has identical buttstock form to this example. It also has a sideplate and triggerguard of very similar form. According to Grinslade, Seth Johnson lived in Old Rutland, Massachusetts and was a Committee of Safety maker between 1772 and 1777. The iron barrel has thick walls and is round and tapered with a tapered relief flat panel along the top. A small brass bead is mounted on top, near the muzzle, along with evidence of an earlier sight slightly farther back. The barrel tang also has an integral raised notched rear sight. The lockplate has a rounded face and is unmarked. The furniture is brass and the flat sideplate has some simple decoration engraved around both lock screws. Most importantly, the oval-shaped convex silver wrist escutcheon is inscribed "1771" above a later inscribed date of "1807", probably added at the time of the owner's death or by a later family member at the time that they took possession. The brass triggerguard is crudely engraved with borders and simple designs. Sheet brass ramrod ferrules. Full length cherry stock in the classic New England form, showing French influence and a Roman nose buttstock. Complete with a later associated ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina. Lock is a reconversion and retains a brown surface, does not hold on cock. Brass shows some wear and marks from use, retaining a mustard patina. Triggerguard has a period repair to back tang. Stock has a later coat of finish and shows some repaired breaks and cracks to forend and a couple minor pieces replaced around lockplate. A very nice dated New England fowler with excellent architecture.
Item Dimensions: L: 61".
Caliber/Bore
.65 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Attributed to Johnson