With browned Damascus octagonal barrel signed “THOMAS SMITH. 55 PARLIAMENT ST.T, LONDON” towards the recessed casehardened patent breech, the breech with platinum plug and inlaid with a platinum line. Blued blade front sight and blued rear sight of one standing leaf. Casehardened standing breech and detented back action lock signed “THOMAS SMITH LONDON” with blued safety bolt behind the hammer, and with double set triggers. Furniture including blued heel plate and blued flat fronted scrolled pistol grip trigger guard. Well-figured bird’s eye maple half-length stock with shaped checkered panels to the grip and forearm, inset with a small square silver initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt, and dark horn forearm cap. Small sling eye fitted to the underside of the butt, the corresponding sling eye mounted beneath the rear ramrod pipe. Horn and brass mounted wooden ramrod. London proof mark. In original fitted oak case lined in green baize, the lid with small printed Thomas Smith trade label. With some accessories including Sykes powder flask and loading mallet. The lid named to “GEORGE EVANS DONALDSON”. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrel retains 80% faded original browned finish with scattered surface corrosion spotting throughout. Sights with traces of original blued finish. Patent breech, standing breech and lock each with 80% original bright casehardened finish with some mottling. Furniture retains 50% original deep blued finish. The stock has a very dark aged patina. The maple figure is clearly visible in the barrel channel. It has numerous age related storage and handling marks, bruises and blemishes throughout, and well-defined checkering. The right edge of the forearm has an old repaired crack and a chip, and some filled knot holes are evident on the butt. The toe of the butt has a small repair. Mechanically very good. The case has some age related storage and handling marking, lining with age related wear, staining and some mothing, and a small replacement patch of baize where the breech sits. There is an address on the lid beneath the name, unfortunately illegible. Overall a wonderfully patinated rifle which has escaped the attentions of restorers.