Lock marked "BEMISTER" at the center. James Bemister is listed as an active gunmaker out of Christchurch, England between 1823-1843, with his brother Samuel Bemister taking over the business between 1843-1847. This massive doglock gun is of the type that would have been used for commercial seal hunting or large scale market waterfowl hunting in England, Canada, or the United States throughout the 1800s. With the advent of large scale muzzleloading weapons such as this one, also referred to as punt guns, hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast. It measures at a whopping 70 inches in overall length, with a 54 inch barrel and a bore diameter measuring at approximately .90 inches, also referred to as a 6 bore. Birmingham proofs stamped at the upper left breech area of the barrel. It is fitted with a full length stock with brass fittings and a wooden ram rod.

Very good with artificially applied brown on the iron with general aging and light wear, some scattered areas of light to mild pitting, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass fittings. Stock is also very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with scattered light dents and handling marks, a few cracks at some of the edges including one ahead of the middle lock screw, and fine figure. Mechanically fine.