Page 51 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1078 Engraved English Durs Egg Marked Flintlock Blunderbuss with Snap Bayonet - NSN, 12 gauge, 17 1/8 inch round bbl., brown/blue finish, walnut stock. Blunderbusses are widely recognized for their use by and against boarding parties in naval combat, especially by the British Navy and pirates. This has made them highly desirable collectibles. Those with brass barrels were especially suited for the high seas since they are resistant to salt water corrosion. British blunderbusses were also issued to the Royal Mail coaches to defend against highwaymen. They were used by civilians on private vessels and on land for self-defense. Their flared muzzles acted as a funnel and made reloading much easier while bumping along in a coach or on the rolling seas. Most reports indicate they perform similar to modern short barrel shotguns of the same bore size making them well suited for close quarters offensive and defense engagements. “D. Egg” signature inscribed at the center of the lock for Swiss born English gunmaker Durs Egg (1748- 1831), with some light dog and bird engraving accents at the tail of the lock and a gold lined pan. The furniture has some light engraving. The stock has silver wedge escutcheons, a small silver thumb plate, and a checkered wrist. Wooden ramrod with swelled horn tip. The barrel flares to 1 1/3 inches at the muzzle with an approximately 12 gauge bore. Equipped with a 15 1/2 inch snap bayonet. CONDITION: Fine overall as period refinished with a smooth brown and light oxidation on the barrel, mix of blue finish and brown patina on the other components, oxidation on the buttplate, partially faded engraving patterns, and general minor marks. The revarnished stock has crisp checkering, some cracking at the wedges, some slight surface chips, and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine including the bayonet mechanism. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1079 Scarce Engraved Tube Lock Blunderbuss - NSN, 4 gauge, 17 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. You do not see many British tube locks, and you’ll find even fewer British tube lock blunderbusses. The multi-stage barrel has no visible markings on the exposed surfaces but shows Birmingham proofmarks on the underside. The main bore is approximately 4 bore (around 1 inch), and the muzzle flares out rapidly to over 1 5/8 inches. There are two empty holes on the standing breech. The lock is unmarked but is engraved with a scene of a dog flushing a bird along with borders and scrollwork. The furniture has coordinating engraving, and the trigger guard features a pineapple style finial. The stock has checkering on the long forend and the round knob semi-pistol grip. It is not designed to carry a ramrod. Includes one spent tube primer. CONDITION: Very good with mix of refinished brown finish and dark brown patina along the barrel, mottled dark gray and brown patina on the lock and furniture, generally mild pitting, bent toe of the buttplate, and mild overall wear. The stock is very good and has crisp checkering, a few dents, minor edge wear, and some light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 1080
Engraved Joseph Bunney of London Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss with Snap Bayonet - NSN, 60 gauge, 14 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Blunderbusses are widely recognized for their use by and against boarding parties in naval combat, especially by the British Navy and pirates. This has made them highly desirable collectibles. Those
with brass barrels were especially suited for the high seas since they are resistant to salt water corrosion. British blunderbusses were also issued to the Royal Mail coaches to defend against highwaymen. They were used by civilians on private vessels and on land for self-defense. Their flared muzzles acted as a funnel and made reloading much easier while bumping along in a coach or on the rolling seas. Most reports indicate they perform similar to modern short barrel shotguns of the same bore size making them well suited for close quarters offensive and defense engagements. This blunderbuss, made by Joseph Bunney (active 1765-1814), is inscribed “Bunney” at the center of the lock with a half-cock safety and a roller frizzen spring, “London” inscribed on the top barrel flat, Tower private proofs on the left of the breech, a checkered wrist stock fitted with brass furniture. The breech, lock, rear side plate, trigger guard, and buttplate tang have light border engraving. Equipped with a 12 3/4 inch folding “snap bayonet”. The gauge is estimated above, and the bore flares to about 1 1/3 inches at the muzzle. CONDITION: Good, retaining an attractive bright patina on the brass, and a gray patina on the lock, some light pitting, dings at the muzzle, and clear markings overall. Stock is very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with scattered light scratches and dents, a filled in rectangular section on the left around the barrel pin, a repaired chip on the right around the barrel pin, some light chips ahead of the lock, a small crack behind the lock, a very small repaired chip behind the upper tang, and nice checkering. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1081
Engraved Late 18th Century John Knubley Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss with Snap Bayonet - NSN, 60 gauge, 14 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Blunderbusses are widely recognized for their use by and against boarding parties in naval combat, especially by the British Navy and pirates. This has made them highly desirable collectibles. Those with brass barrels were especially suited for the high seas since they are resistant to salt water corrosion. British blunderbusses were also issued to the Royal Mail coaches to defend against highwaymen. They
were used by civilians on private vessels and on land for self-defense. Their flared muzzles acted as a funnel and made reloading much easier while bumping along in a coach or on the rolling seas. Most reports indicate they perform similar to modern short barrel shotguns of the same bore size making them well suited for close quarters offensive and defense engagements. John Knubley began his career as a gunmaker in the county of Yorkshire in the 1760s before moving his business to London where he is recorded at two addresses on Charing Cross between 1786 and 1794. He became gunmaker to the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Clarence and Prince Edward, and was a contractor to Ordnance between 1790 and 1794. Upon his death in 1795 his business was taken over by Samuel Brunn and continued trading as Knubley & Co. or Knubley & Brunn until 1797. Dating to circa 1790, this blunderbuss has a brass barrel with turned slightly belled muzzle and short octagonal breech section with border engraving, signed “London” on the top barrel flat and struck with Tower private proofs on the left of the breech. “Knubley” signed at the center of the lock. A flower is engraved on the bottom of the trigger guard was well as on the buttplate tang. Figured walnut stock fitted with brass mounts including the screw side plates, trigger guard with acorn finial, and buttplate. Includes a horn tipped wooden ramrod housed beneath the forearm. Caliber is estimated, flares to approximately 1 1/4 inches at the muzzle. CONDITION: Very good, retains attractive bright patina on the brass barrel, scattered brown patina on the iron surfaces with scattered light pitting, and sharp markings and engraving in the metal overall. Stock is also very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with attractive grain, some light scratches and dents, a light repair on the left of the forend around the front barrel pin, a crack ahead of the lock, a repaired section and a crack ahead of the left flat, and slightly undersized at the barrel tang and around the buttplate. Ramrod is present but broken. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000 49