John Knubley began his career as a gunmaker in the county of Yorkshire in the 1760s before moving his business to London where he is recorded at two addresses on Charing Cross between 1786 and 1794. He became gunmaker to the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Clarence and Prince Edward, and was a contractor to Ordnance between 1790 and 1794. Upon his death in 1795 his business was taken over by Samuel Brunn and continued trading as Knubley & Co. or Knubley & Brunn until 1797. Dating to circa 1790, this blunderbuss has a diminutive four stage brass barrel with turned slightly belled muzzle and short octagonal breech section engraved with a band of stylized running foliage, signed “KNUBLEY – LONDON” and struck with London view and proof marks. The iron barrel tang is finely engraved with scrollwork and flowering foliage, and the burnished flat bevelled lock is signed “KNUBLEY” and has a stepped tail, safety catch and roller frizzen. Figured walnut three quarter length stock is cut with diamond pattern checkering at the wrist, fitted with brass mounts including martial trophy solid side plate and trigger guard with acorn finial, and has a later horn tipped wooden ramrod housed beneath the forearm.

Good. The barrel has crisp turned girdles between each stage, and the signature remains clear. The engraving to the iron barrel tang and brass mounts is clear throughout. The lock has been burnished bright resulting in some wear to the signature, and the broken safety catch is incomplete. The stock has been refinished with evidence of some repairs behind the tail of the lock, a small repaired crack to the forearm, and some minor storage and handling blemishes. Mechanically excellent.