This large flintlock sporting gun was made by the famous French emigre gunsmith Lewis (Louis) Barbar circa 1700. The swamped octagonal iron barrel is likely smoothbored from rifled and is struck with London proof marks and the maker’s stamp "LB" on the upper left flat towards the breech, fitted with a dovetailed rounded blade front sight and a later dovetailed three leaf rear sight with floral finial. It has an iron tang with a double line border. The coordinating double line border engraved rounded iron lock has a down-turned tail and is signed “BARBAR.” The molded root wood stock is fitted with iron mounts including turned ramrod ferrules, an attractive acanthus scroll pattern side-plate, a vacant wrist escutcheon and a long pointed finial on the heel-plate tang. Later iron capped wooden ramrod. The Norman R. Blank Collection notes indicate this gun was in the collection of Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh Abbey until being sold at auction in 1967. Provenance: The Collection of the Barons Leigh; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Good. Iron parts with mottled gray patina and pitting throughout, clear signature, and age and storage related wear throughout. The re-varnished stock has a crack through the forearm, extensive old worm holing throughout, a spliced repair visible at the toe of the butt, and some additional cracks and repairs throughout, tip of forearm rebuilt. Mechanically fine. This is a very early English sporting gun. English guns from the beginning of the 18th century are very difficult to acquire.