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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.
CONDITION: 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. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000
LOT 1275 Rare Silver Mounted Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss with “Snap Bayonet’ by Richards - NSN, 67 gauge, 15 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., bright/silver finish, walnut stock. This blunderbuss by Theophilus Richards (1747-1828) is particularly rare in that it has silver furniture dating to 1794. Blunderbusses are not typically luxury arms, but a well-to-do gentleman may have preferred to have his coach armed with a fancier blunderbuss. “The Concise History of Birmingham” from 1808 noted, “The shop of Theophilus Richards, in the High Street, is the toyshop of Birmingham; for the elegance of its appearance and the multiplicity of its valuable articles it is scarcely rivalled,” and the shop was known for its silver goods. The multi-stage barrel has Birmingham private proofs on the upper left (pre-1813) and a folding “snap bayonet” with a 12 inch blade. The bore flares out to around 1 1/8 inches at the muzzle. The lock has a large frizzen spring roller, stepped tail
LOT 1274
Waters, Gill & Co. Flintlock Brass Barrel Blunderbuss with Underslung Bayonet and Self-Priming Pan - NSN, 16 gauge, 12 1/8 inch part octagon bbl., bright
finish, walnut stock. John
with burst engraving, sliding half-cock safety, and “T/RICHARDS” signed at the center. The furniture is silver and features floral and martial engraving, a pineapple finial on the trigger guard, and Birmingham silver hallmarks, including the “W” date code for 1794 and a “CF” maker’s mark. The stock has a checkered wrist.
CONDITION: Fine overall with light aged patina on the brass
barrel, dark brown patina and mild pitting on the lock and
bayonet, mostly bright polished silver with some dark aged patina in the recesses, and general minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, minor dings and scratches, and a few small flakes. Mechanically excellent, including the bayonet.
Estimate: 8,000 - 10,000
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