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LOT 1185
Very Rare Engraved Henry Nock 60 Bore Seven Barrel Flintlock Sporting Volley Rifle with Case - Serial no. 4596, 41 cal., 20 1/2 inch bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. The Nock volley gun was
actually designed by James Wilson in 1779, but Nock was the manufacturer. They were adopted for naval use and packed
serious firepower with better accuracy than a shotgun or blunderbuss. In addition to the martial version, Nock also manufactured
some for the civilian market like this one which could be used for hunting waterfowl at greater distances and are sometimes
referred to as “goose rifles.” He also manufactured pepperbox versions with rotating barrel groups that fired one barrel at a time (see Lot 110.) This is a very
scarce example of a commercial rifled Nock volley gun and features browned Damascus twist barrels with a concave rib between the upper two barrels signed “H. NOCK,
LONDON, GUN MAKER TO HIS MAJESTY,” a silver front sight, and a three-leaf rear sight (one standing and two folding). The breech has a gold band and a gold vent liner. The lower
two barrels have an under-rib with a single turned ferrule for the brass ramrod (replacement). The lower two barrels and the underside of the breech are struck with London proof marks. The standing breech is engraved with foliage incorporating a martial trophy and has a small sighting groove. The flat beveled lock has a stepped tail, gold lined rainproof priming pan and roller frizzen,
and “H. NOCK” signed below the pan. The engraved iron furniture includes a trigger guard with scrolled finger rest, pineapple finials on the trigger plate and entry pipe, washer around the lock screw, and flat buttplate. The stock has silver wedge escutcheons and a finely checkered wrist. It comes in a fitted oak case lined in green baize with a recessed printed Henry Nock trade label and accessories, including a Sykes brass topped powder flask with seven nozzles and a brass ball mold for seven balls and stamped “H. NOCK”.
CONDITION: Very good as reconverted to flintlock configuration, refinished, and assembled using original Nock barrels and breechblock. The lock plate is a dull grey patina with some scattered corrosion spot marks and softened engraving. The barrels retain most of the rebrowned finish, a clear signature, and have some scattered pitting visible beneath the finish. The refinished stock is also fine and has
crisp checkering, a faint repaired crack along the underside between the finials, hairline crack at the tail of the lock, and filled knot on the cheekpiece. Mechanically excellent. The case is good and has the external wood revarnished and an older relining. The trade label appears genuine but is stained and holed. The accessories are also fine and have mild age and storage related wear. Overall, this is an attractive representative example of a very rare Nock Volley Rifle. Provenance: The Malcolm B. Troup, Captain, US Army, Retired Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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