An 18-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun

An 18-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun By W. Smith Of London, Early 19th Century With rebrowned two-stage sighted barrel (ramrod-pipes loose, under-rib detached beneath the muzzle) turned at the girdle and with octagonal breech, the latter with gold touch-hole, tang engraved with a tiger-mask amid foliage, and with a starburst in the sighting groove, border engraved flat lock signed in capitals and decorated with a starburst behind the rainproof pan, and with gamebirds in a landscape on the tail, engraved 'French' cock and roller, figured half-stock (some old bruising) with chequered grip, border engraved steel mounts comprising butt-plate decorated with game birds on the heel tang, trigger-guard in the French taste and decorated with a signed oval against a gun dog in a landscape on the bow, trigger-plate with large pineapple finial, fore-end cap also forming ramrod-entry and engraved with a starburst, vacant silver escutcheon and barrel-bolt escutcheons, and brass-mounted ramrod, probably original, Tower private proof marks and barrelsmith's mark 'WS' stamped twice; together with a 13-bore flintlock sporting gun, dated 1795, with sighted barrel retaining traces of maker's details within an elongated loop along the top flat, brass fore-sight cast as a bearded face, grooved tang, rounded lock originally signed on a scroll, figured half-stock (some bruising, reduced from full) carved with a shell behind the tang, brass mounts comprising side-plate (partly replaced) cast, pierced and chased with a gun dog and hanging game, cast and chased escutcheon engraved '1795', border engraved butt-plate and trigger-guard, the latter with early form of acorn finial and engraved 'G. Morland 1795', and later steel ramrod with brass tip (trigger replaced, barrel and lock worn and pitted) (2) 87.3 cm. and 98.3 cm. barrels For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing