This unusual commercial small bore Nock Volley Gun or Goose Rifle has seven rifled barrels. Seven-barrel sporting rifles for hunting various game saw a brief period of relative popularity in the early 19th century though they were never that widely used. In theory, these interesting firearms can put a relatively tight cluster of shots on a target at greater range and with greater velocity than a shotgun. Colonel Thomas Thornton wrote about them in "A Sporting Tour through the Northern Parts of England" (1804) and "A Sporting Tour through France" (1805). Most of the surviving examples are flintlocks, but this example was updated with a Manton tubelock. He patented the tubelock in 1818 and the ignition system was briefly popular until the standard percussion cap was invented and broadly adopted in the 1820s. The upper rib has a small blade front sight and is signed "-H-NOCK-LUDGATE-HILL-LONDON-." The lower right and lower left barrels have two sets of London proof and view marks. The interesting tube lock has "JOSEPH MANTON PATENT" and scroll engraving. The upper tang has a dished rear sight with burst engraving, and most of the rest of the furniture has floral and martial themed engraving along with a stag on the heel and two birds on the trigger guard bow. The stock has a checkered wrist and a silver escutcheon engraved with baron's coronet but no visible monogram or initials. The ramrod is absent.

Fine with mottled gray and brown patina, some mild oxidation/pitting, traces of case colors on the lock, mostly distinct engraving, and moderate overall wear. The refinished stock is also fine and has mostly crisp checkering, some small flakes absent at the edges, numerous small dings and scratches, and some nice figure. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.