This classic fowling piece or fowler was attributed as by Reuben Sikes carried in 1775 at Bunker Hill (newspaper articles included). Newspaper clippings about the gun and other items "thought to have been owned and used by Reuben Sikes, a soldier in the Revolutionary War," including a powder horn engraved with "Reuben Sikes: His Horn Made by Him in Rocksbury Camp: Nov. 1775" on it are discussed. The horn was sold separately in 2011. The items were left to James Burdeshaw by Isaac DeNyce who "is believed to have been a direct descendant of the original owner of the items, one Reuben Sikes." The article notes that Sikes fought at Bunker Hill and also operated the first stagecoach between Boston and New York and transported the mail between the two important cities in 1783. The consignor's notes indicate the Sikes was also later a member of the Connecticut legislature. The listing for the powder horn points to sources indicating Sikes was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1730, fought with the 8th Connecticut Regiment in 1775, served in the Connecticut Legislature in 1776-1777, served as justice of the peace for in Hartford County, and died in Connecticut in 1804. The gun is likely from the early 19th century, and its seems more likely that the items discussed in the newspaper article were unrelated pieces that DeNyce had collected given the style of the gun and the fact that a Native American stone club among the items in the article would not have been used in the American Revolution by Sikes. The gun has a long, three-stage barrel with a rounded brass blade front sight and an unknown escutcheon shaped stamp near the breech end. The lock is unmarked and has a stepped tail and minimal light engraving. The brass furniture includes four ramrod pipes, a trigger guard with acorn finial, coordinating acorn finial front lock screw plate, lozenge shaped rear lock screw plate, and buttplate with a pointed teat at the tip of the finial.

Very good "out of the attic" type condition overall with dark brown patina overall, including on the brass, along with a few spots of light aged patina from handling. The lock and barrel have some mild oxidation and pitting. The stock is good and has a dark aged appearance that matches the metal, moderate scratches and storage marks, cracks along the toe section, and rather mild overall wear. Mechanically fine.