William Brander was made free of the Gunmakers Company in 1748 with his proof piece and makers mark being presented in 1752. He went on to serve as Master of the Gunmakers Company in 1767, 1772 and 1779. He operated from differing addresses in The Minories in the City of London throughout his career and was made a contractor to the East India Company in 1773. Dating to circa 1770, this blunderbuss has a long slender four stage brass barrel with turned slightly belled muzzle and octagonal breech section engraved with sprays of foliage, signed “BRANDER - LONDON” and struck with the maker’s mark “*WB” and London view and proof marks. Foliate engraved iron barrel tang and rounded lock signed “BRANDER”. The figured walnut three quarter length stock with swelled forearm and raised apron around the barrel tang is fitted with brass mounts including solid side plate and butt plate each engraved with foliage, trigger guard with acorn finial, and large oval thumb escutcheon with an urn beneath and a rococo shell above. Iron sling mounts and a later brass tipped wooden ramrod is housed beneath the forearm. The bore is estimated above and flares to 1-1/16 inches at the muzzle.

Fine. The very attractive brass barrel has well defined turned girdles between each stage and the signature and breech engraving remains clear. The iron barrel tang and lock have a dark discolored patina with some wear to the engraved decoration, frizzen spring weak. The otherwise fine stock has some cracks and a small insert repair to the forearm, and some minor storage and handling blemishes throughout. The front sling mount has not been fitted well to the forearm causing some wear to the wood and appears to be responsible for one of the cracks. Mechanically excellent.