Manufactured circa 1750-60. John (2) Bumford was Apprenticed in 1735 and made Free of the Gunmakers’ Company in 1742. He was elected Assistant in 1746, and was twice elected Master, in 1751 and 1756. From 1754-9 Bumford is recorded working as a gunmaker at “the Sign of the Golden Blunderbuss, Minories”; thereafter at Minories, 1759-68, and at No. 8 St. George Street, Minories, 1769-74. Bumford was a Contractor to the Ordnance 1756-71, to the East India Company 1745-73, and to the Hudson’s Bay Company 1757-75; he died in 1775. The round brass barrel is of two stages flaring at the muzzle and divided by turned moldings. The breech section is signed “LONDON”, struck with London proof marks and maker’s stamp, and is engraved with a spray of foliage. Border engraved iron tang and border and scroll engraved rounded iron lock signed “BUMFORD”. Molded figured walnut stock with raised apron with shell around the barrel tang and fitted with engraved brass mounts including pierced martial trophy sideplate. Iron ramrod. Bore estimated.

Very good. The brass parts have clear engraving throughout. The barrel has some minor age related storage and handling blemishes. The lock has a dark grey almost blue patina with a small patch of fine corrosion speckling beneath the priming pan and a clear signature. The buttplate tang has an old repaired crack. The re-oiled stock is also very good and has scattered age related storage and handling marks, bruises and surface blemishes, and repaired cracks on the forearm. Mechanically excellent.