Page 168 - 86-Book3

LOT 3229
Fine Engraved John Bumford Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss - NSN, 12 gauge, 16 1/2 inch round bbl., brass/bright finish, relief carved walnut stock. Manufactured circa 1750-60. John (2) Bumford was Apprenticed in 1735 and made Free of the Gunmakers’ Company in 1742. He was elected Assistant in 1746,
and was twice elected Master, in 1751 and 1756. From 1754-9 Bumford is recorded working as a gunmaker at “the Sign of the Golden Blunderbuss, Minories”; thereafter at Minories, 1759-68, and at No. 8 St. George Street, Minories, 1769-74. Bumford was a Contractor to the Ordnance 1756-71, to the East India Company 1745-73, and to the Hudson’s Bay Company 1757-75; he died in 1775. The round brass barrel is of two stages flaring at the muzzle and divided by turned moldings. The breech section is signed “LONDON”, struck with London proof marks and maker’s stamp, and is engraved with a spray of foliage. Border engraved iron tang and border and scroll engraved rounded iron lock signed “BUMFORD”. Molded figured walnut stock with raised apron with shell around the barrel tang and fitted with engraved brass mounts including pierced martial trophy sideplate. Iron ramrod. Bore estimated. CONDITION: Very good. The brass parts have clear engraving throughout. The barrel has some minor age related storage and handling blemishes. The lock has a dark grey almost blue patina with a small patch of fine corrosion speckling beneath the priming pan and a clear signature. The buttplate tang has an old repaired crack. The re-oiled stock is also very good and has scattered age related storage and handling marks, bruises and surface blemishes, and repaired cracks on the forearm. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
t
166
LOT 3230
Finely Engraved Webb Flintlock Blunderbuss with Paktong Furniture - NSN, 20 gauge, 18 3/4 inch part octagon bbl., bright steel/paktong finish, walnut stock. Manufactured circa 1775-80, quite possibly by Ann Webb of London. Ann Webb was apprenticed to Edward Bond in 1770 before working at 108 Leadenhall Street before moving to 59 Lombard Street “at the Sign of the Golden Blunderbuss.” The iron barrel is of three stages with octagonal breech section, round central section and flared section at the muzzle which has decorative turned moldings. The breech section is struck with private London proof marks, signed “LONDON,” and lightly engraved with foliate scrollwork. The tang has a sighting groove and is engraved with further foliate scrollwork and a band of beadwork. The flat bevelled lock with safety catch is signed “WEBB” and engraved with border lines and foliate scrollwork. The molded, well-figured walnut stock has fine silver wire inlaid scrollwork around the barrel tang and is fitted with cast and chased paktong furniture including a trigger guard with acorn finial and a solid sideplate engraved with further border lines and foliate scrollwork. The wooden ramrod has a dark horn tip. Bore estimated. CONDITION: Very good. The iron parts display a light grey patina and shallow corrosion speckling, softened engraving on the barrel, clear engraving on the lock, and some corrosion pitting around the ouch hole. The re-oiled stock is also very good and has some scattered age related storage and handling marks and bruises mostly confined to the underside beneath the lock and breech and repairs in the forend,. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive blunderbuss. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3231
Fine Engraved British Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss Engraved with Owner’s Name - NSN, 20 cal., 15 1/4 inch round bbl., brass/casehardened finish, relief carved walnut stock. Manufactured circa 1800. The round brass barrel is of two stages flaring at the muzzle and divided by turned moldings. The breech section is signed “R. JOY”, almost certainly the name of the original owner, and struck with private Tower proof marks. It has a scroll engraved iron tang and border and a scroll engraved rounded lock. The walnut stock fitted has a raised apron with shell relief carved around the barrel tang and engraved brass furniture including a trigger
guard with acorn finial and a solid sideplate. The wooden ramrod has a horn tip. CONDITION: Fine. The brass parts have clear engraving throughout, mellow aged patina, and minor dings and scratches. The lock has a dark grey patina and crisp engraving. The stock is also fine and has scattered age related storage and handling marks and bruises throughout and a faint crack on the left side of the forend. Later ramrod. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3232
Engraved British Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss with Snap Bayonet - NSN, 28 gauge, 14 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This c. 1820 Birmingham-made blunderbuss has a round three-stage brass barrel with full-length iron spring bayonet above, “LONDON” marked on top, and post-1813 Birmingham proofs at the left of the breech. The iron barrel tang is fitted with the sliding bayonet release catch, and the flat
beveled lock is signed “TWIGG” and has an engraved stepped tail, sliding safety, and frizzen spring roller. There is some light floral and border engraving on the barrel and brass furniture, and a Britannia shield is engraved on the buttplate tang. The bore is estimated. CONDITION: Very good with mellow aged patina and mild marks and scratches on the brass barrel and furniture, gray/brown patina on the lock and bayonet along with some light pitting, general mild overall wear, slight crack at the nose of the lock, and mild dings and scratches on the re-oiled stock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000