November 18, 2020 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2020
Swinburn & Son is recorded as working in Birmingham circa 1851-1883 and was heavily involved with the manufacture of the Jacob's Rifle that brought John Jacob much of his fame. Jacob is also noted as an officer of the East India Company who spent much of his time in India before founding the town of Jacobabad, where he ultimately perished and his mausoleum can still be visited. Blade front sight, rear sight with 1 standing sight and 1 folding leaf. Top strap with old partially legible legend that proclaims manufacture by C.P. Swinburn and Sons under Jacob's pistol patent reading "GENERAL [JOHN] JACOB'S PATTERN RIFLED PISTOL / MANUFACTURED BY C P SWINBURN & SON BIRMINGHAM". Left side of barrels with partially obscured Birmingham proofs and a pair of "30" for bore size. Captured swivel ramrod with trumpet head and floral engraved rammer, deeply inset for use with Jacob's pointed bullets. Back action locks engraved with scroll and grape leaves, breech borders engraved en suite. English push on safeties. Hammers of two different sizes with flat backs to strike two different nipples; hammers engraved with acanthus. Trigger guard with full-length tang engraved en suite. Spine tang with further grape bunches engraving and a serial number, 1012, partially obscured. 1 piece walnut grips with half length checkering, left side inlaid with a silver plaque in a vacant escutcheon depicting a coat of arms and motto "Non Nobis Solum" (Trans: Not For Ourselves Alone), the arms of John Jacob. Buttcap with trap for caps. CONDITION: Good for age. Metal essentially a smooth mix of darkness and gunmetal grey, with several areas of obfuscation as mentioned above. Left hammer replaced. Grips are attractive and full sized, with sharp checkering, and numerous bumps and bruises throughout acquired over time. Silver plaque is legible under magnification. Action works appropriately when cycled by hand with exception given to safeties which are frozen, bores with smooth oxidation throughout. Given the caliber of the bore, the Birmingham stamps for 30 bore, and accompanying letters, the bores have been considerably opened up and obliterated what would have been original Jacob's rifling for use with Jacob's proprietary ammo. Accompanied by a number of letters from Graeme Rimer and Paul Wilcock identifying this pistol and authenticating it when it visited England in the late '80s. A very finite number of arms have been attributed to Jacob, and even fewer have an identified pair in a respected arms institution. EW
CORRECTION: Please note that this wonderful pistol not only has its mate in the Royal Armouries, but when the set was separated off the coast of India, a case was also lost.
Caliber/Bore
.62 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
C.P. Swinburn
Paperwork
Letters from Rimer & Wilcock