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LOT 3330
Rare Mid 18th-Century British Collumbell Breechloading Flintlock Rifle - NSN,
65 cal., 34 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. A very early mid 18th-century
breechloading flintlock rifle made by British Gunmaker David Collumbell, who originally
apprenticed to Gerrett Johnson in 1712. David Collumbell started his own workshop in 1734 in
Westminster, London. He was appointed Gunmaker to Ordnance in 1756, and to the East India
Company in 1761, and would live until 1777. This early example of his work features a single start
threaded 8 1/4 turn breech plug for loading access from the underside of the barrel. Rare and
expensive for its time, a rifle such as this would typically be used for sporting purposes by wealthy
Englishmen, giving an advantage in the ability to reload at the breech end while sitting up high
in a tree. Small front blade sight and single ornate barrel band with U shaped rear sight on top.
Barrel with twelve-groove .65 caliber rifling, flaring to .67 caliber at the muzzle, marked with Crown
proofs on the left breech and “COLLUMBELL LONDON” on top. Rounded early style lock marked
“COLLUMBELL”. Light coverage floral scroll engraving on the breech end of the barrel, sideplate,
triggerguard, and buttplate. Full length stock with ramrod below, and minor raised relief shell
carving at the top of the wrist. Butt of the stock contains a removable 4 1/2 inch rod intended for
use in the initial turning of the breech plug after a live firing.
CONDITION: Fine with a lightly aged patina on the cleaned and polished metal surfaces, very
light scattered surface pitting, some light handling marks, and sharp markings. Stock is also fine
with crisp raised relief carving visible on top wrist, some scattered dings and scratches, a 5 1/2
inch repaired section of wood at the front, and a 5 inch crack on the left, some light spots and
crisp edges. Mechanically excellent. One of the earliest breechloading sporting rifles of its kind,
displaying some of the finer work in 18th-century British gun making.
Estimate: 8,500 - 14,000