Lot 31: Spanish Percussion Shotgun 12

This is a nice example of an Aragon manufactured silver inlaid Spanish Miquelet. Aragon was one of the few late Spanish gun makers after the Kingdom of Spain fell. The rear 11 3/4 inches of the barrel are nicely decorated with silver inlaid floral designs, the figure of a Cavalier with a musket and marked, in Spanish, "MADE OF HORSESHOES FOR PEDRO ARANGUREN IN EIBAR 1857" on the upper and top flats. Directly ahead of the octagon portion is a band of relief engraved floral scroll designs with gold inlay. The decoratively shaped lock is marked "M ARAGON". The hammer assembly is very nicely styled. The ram rod has a brass tip and is secured by a decorative silver pipe. Mounted with a smooth, nicely figured walnut stock secured by a engraved silver double barrel band, decorative trigger guard extension and iron toe plate, with bare butt.

Very good plus. The barrel retains traces of the original thin brown finish, with a smooth lighter brown patina on the balance. The mountings remain bright with some mottled darkening on the trigger guard extension. All of the silver and gold inlay remains. The stock is excellent with only a few minor dings and handling marks. The action is crisp. This is a very attractive ornate Spanish sporting shotgun.