This superb Spanish gun looks is fitted with a French influenced "la llave a la moda de Madrid" or Madrid lock. The lock has a gold-lined "crown/ANT./GO/MEZ" punzon between the cock and the priming pan, floral scroll engraving with beaded and gilded backgrounds, and "ANTONIO GOMEZ 1771/MADRID" signature in banners below the pan. The blued barrel, which is retained by three pierced spring-held bands, is similarly inlaid with "EN MADRID" (upper left), "ANTONIO GOMEZ" (top), and "ANO DE 1771" (upper right) in gold along with gold inlaid scroll and floral patterns and has the following sunken gold-lined markings at the breech: a cross, three flowers, the same punzon as the lock, and a unicorn. The barrel tang and furniture have engraving with gold backgrounds that coordinate with the lock. The trigger guard has the same gold-lined punzon on the bow. The burnished steel grooved rear sight is fitted to the barrel by its own band which is engraved en suite with the other furniture and features two shaped gilt panels, and a silver "spider" base front sight is fitted near the muzzle of the smoothbore barrel. The gun has a French style stock with checkering on the forend and wrist and a shallow cheek rest terminating in a scroll and is believed to have been restocked in France around 1810. A similar gun with the Madrid style stock and side plate can be seen in Francisco Goya's hunting portrait of King Carlos III circa 1786-1788. Antonio Gomez was one of the most influential Madrid gunmakers in the third quarter of the 18th century. He was trained by Joaquin Zelaya and became a gunmaker to King Carlos III in the 1760s, trained Juan Lopez and Ramon Martinez, and died in 1774. Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection

Exceptionally fine as period restocked and refinished with 95% plus blue and gold finish, mostly bright lock plate and furniture, some patches of mild oxidation/pitting, and generally only minor age and storage related wear. The stock is very fine and has some minor handling and storage type marks, crisp checkering, and smooth oiled finish. Mechanically excellent.