John Waters was granted British patent No. 1284 in 1781 for a sprung bayonet mechanism on pistols and is credited with inventing the "snap bayonet" found on many blunderbusses. Thomas Gill was an English cutler. The barrel has Birmingham private proofs flanking John Waters's "crown/IW" maker's mark on the upper left at the breech, an underslung bayonet that is secured by a mechanism built into the trigger guard and released via a rear trigger, and some light engraving. The bayonet is marked "No 1010." on the left side. The lock is marked "WATERS/GILL & Co." and is equipped with an automatic priming mechanism in the frizzen with a rotating bottom cover linked to an arm on the lock, sliding half-cock safety, stepped tail, and light engraving. The brass furniture has scroll, floral, and shell engraving.

Fine. The barrel and furniture have attractive aged patina. The lock has a welded area behind the pan, some case colors, a mix of original and artificial brown, moderate pitting on the pan, and a loose fit of the primer magazine lid. The stock is also fine and has a spliced toe, small hole at the ramrod entry pipe, repairs around the lock mortise, and some small chips. Mechanically fine.