John Fox Twigg (1732–1792) was among the premier English gunmakers of the 18th century, and this fine swivel breech or "wender" sporting gun clearly demonstrates the fact. A similar gun is featured as no. 168 in W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back's "Great British Gunmakers, 1740-1790: The History of John Twigg and the Packington Guns." Twigg is known to have been influenced by Continental European firearms with the present example of a wender gun and the series of German-style flintlock rifles made by him in the 1770s baring witness to this. This piece was notably sold to Norman R. Blank by Neal. The smoothbore barrels are each equipped with a silver blade front sight with a tear drop base and feature decorative bands at the transition point, gold vent liners, London proof and view marks flanking Twigg's "*/IT" maker's mark, "Twigg LONDON" signed on the top flats, and gold vent liners. A priming pan, frizzen with roller, and frizzen spring for each barrel are fitted to plates at the breech, and they share a back action lock with goose-neck cock, sliding safety, and stepped tail signed "Twigg" and a ramrod fitted to one side. The gun is fitted with a plain trigger and iron furniture with floral and border engraving. The stock has broad checkering with dot accents and raised relief shell carving. Provenance: The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very good with most of the period refurbished brown remaining on the barrels along with distinct twist patterns, smooth brown patina, and some pitting; dark mottled gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina and pitting on the furniture, and general overall wear. The stock is very good and has distinct checkering and carving, numerous mild dings and scratches, and general mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.