Not for everybody, but it sure turns heads! Weighs in at a hefty 10.8 pounds, but I will say ... fishtail stocked arms carry and 'cheek and shoulder' much nicer than their otherwise ungainly looks might belie!
Early and ORNATE Dutch 75-cal Snaphaunce
- Thread starter Flint62Smoothie
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More eye candy ...
All the furniture are individually cast silver mounts, by the 'lost cast wax' method, am having my Jeweler assay the silver.
All the furniture are individually cast silver mounts, by the 'lost cast wax' method, am having my Jeweler assay the silver.
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Do you know who the builder "JD" was? When it was built?
I would guess this a victorian or even later build.
I would guess this a victorian or even later build.
Canute Rex
40 Cal.
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The verse on the side plate is from Andrew Marvell's poem, The Garden, written between 1651 and 1657. The spelling of "shayde" is a false antiquarian innovation. The original poem had it spelled "shade." The lettering also looks off for a 17th c piece. Marvell's poetry didn't gain a lot of attention until its revival in the 19th century.
The complexity of the decorative elements doesn't correspond to the nature of their execution or technique. I'd agree with PhDBrewer that piece is a later repro. Still, quite an eyeful. It probably graced the wall of a Victorian hunting lodge and looked down on a bunch of nabobs sipping warm gin, smoking cigars, and reminiscing about the siege of Lucknow.
The complexity of the decorative elements doesn't correspond to the nature of their execution or technique. I'd agree with PhDBrewer that piece is a later repro. Still, quite an eyeful. It probably graced the wall of a Victorian hunting lodge and looked down on a bunch of nabobs sipping warm gin, smoking cigars, and reminiscing about the siege of Lucknow.
Except for the decorations applied to the pan shield, the lock looks absolutely identical to my Rifle Shoppe snaphaunce lock.
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Contemporary Dutch-Style Flintlock Snaphaunce Musket
John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)
.77 caliber. 46" two stage octagonal to round barrel length. SN: NSN.
Bright metal finish. Full length walnut stock has a flared Dutch-style buttstock, carved thumb rest to right side of grip, and a forearm with elk horn fittings and incised lines.
Snaphance action smoothbore musket with notch rear sight and silver blade front sight.
Item features carved elk horn fittings on left face of buttstock that appear to be Diana and a cherub, preceded by a fitting showing several entangled grotesque animals. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings that show grotesques intertwined with a knotwork pattern. Right side of butt has elk horn fittings that appear to show an Echidna holding a skull, preceded by an arabesque design. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings, one of a grotesque intertwined with knotwork and two knotwork without figures. Both sides of forearm have carved elk horn neoclassical knotwork panels followed by foot prints and hoof prints in succession.
Side panel is fitted with a carved elk horn panel with devil grotesques holding a banner with lines from the poem "The Garden" by Andrew Marvell, which reads Annihilating All that's made/To a green thought/In the green shayde.
Bottom edge of stock has a carved elk horn filigree fitting, and top of wrist has a neoclassical elk horn fitting that reads JD/Fecit.
Buttplate is cast silver in the neoclassical style, with a pierced center showing a vignette of a grotesque above what appears to be Diana. Bottom edge of buttstock has a cast silver filigree fitting.
Triggerguard is cast silver with grotesque and neoclassical details.
Ferrules are cast silver with single oak leaves, and ferrule throat is cast in the shape of a swan.
Forend cap is also cast silver with floral motifs. Top of wrist features a cast silver grotesque.
Lock is from the Rifle Shoppe. Wood ramrod with carved elk horn tip. "
William
John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)
.77 caliber. 46" two stage octagonal to round barrel length. SN: NSN.
Bright metal finish. Full length walnut stock has a flared Dutch-style buttstock, carved thumb rest to right side of grip, and a forearm with elk horn fittings and incised lines.
Snaphance action smoothbore musket with notch rear sight and silver blade front sight.
Item features carved elk horn fittings on left face of buttstock that appear to be Diana and a cherub, preceded by a fitting showing several entangled grotesque animals. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings that show grotesques intertwined with a knotwork pattern. Right side of butt has elk horn fittings that appear to show an Echidna holding a skull, preceded by an arabesque design. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings, one of a grotesque intertwined with knotwork and two knotwork without figures. Both sides of forearm have carved elk horn neoclassical knotwork panels followed by foot prints and hoof prints in succession.
Side panel is fitted with a carved elk horn panel with devil grotesques holding a banner with lines from the poem "The Garden" by Andrew Marvell, which reads Annihilating All that's made/To a green thought/In the green shayde.
Bottom edge of stock has a carved elk horn filigree fitting, and top of wrist has a neoclassical elk horn fitting that reads JD/Fecit.
Buttplate is cast silver in the neoclassical style, with a pierced center showing a vignette of a grotesque above what appears to be Diana. Bottom edge of buttstock has a cast silver filigree fitting.
Triggerguard is cast silver with grotesque and neoclassical details.
Ferrules are cast silver with single oak leaves, and ferrule throat is cast in the shape of a swan.
Forend cap is also cast silver with floral motifs. Top of wrist features a cast silver grotesque.
Lock is from the Rifle Shoppe. Wood ramrod with carved elk horn tip. "
William
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It indeed is a ‘contemporary’ build and of a true 75 bore; am not sure why they listed it as a 77.
The Builder – John B. Derrick began making black powder firearms in the early 1990s, after retiring from a career as an English Literature professor.
His first inspiration came from his memories of the European firearms he had collected in Germany as an adolescent, during his family's stay there. It was during this period that his interest in antique firearms had first developed, and his aesthetic affinity for the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was established.
Derrick's study of the guns of that era began with a focus on German Jaeger rifles and expanded to include works by French and English gun makers. He actively sought out original pieces that inspired his contemporary interpretations of European masterworks. His guns are rarely exact replicas, yet they are all true in spirit to the pre-industrial baroque and rococo styles that he loved.
His trademarks are the use of elk antler, sterling silver and bronze inlay, and his fine woodcarving. He produced his own custom brass and silver furniture by the lost wax method, without the use of molds, therefore each piece is unique. His guns include snaphaunces and wheellocks, as well as flintlocks, where Jaegers and cheek-stocked hunting rifles were his specialty.
Mr. Derrick recently passed away on May 14th, 2024.
The Builder – John B. Derrick began making black powder firearms in the early 1990s, after retiring from a career as an English Literature professor.
His first inspiration came from his memories of the European firearms he had collected in Germany as an adolescent, during his family's stay there. It was during this period that his interest in antique firearms had first developed, and his aesthetic affinity for the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was established.
Derrick's study of the guns of that era began with a focus on German Jaeger rifles and expanded to include works by French and English gun makers. He actively sought out original pieces that inspired his contemporary interpretations of European masterworks. His guns are rarely exact replicas, yet they are all true in spirit to the pre-industrial baroque and rococo styles that he loved.
His trademarks are the use of elk antler, sterling silver and bronze inlay, and his fine woodcarving. He produced his own custom brass and silver furniture by the lost wax method, without the use of molds, therefore each piece is unique. His guns include snaphaunces and wheellocks, as well as flintlocks, where Jaegers and cheek-stocked hunting rifles were his specialty.
Mr. Derrick recently passed away on May 14th, 2024.
I really like his work. He does justice to the “maximalist” style of decoration of the past, at least to the reasonable level of anyone that values their time. People quick to judge it should remember that artistic tastes were very different in this period.
Rest in peace, Mr. Derrick. You had gifts.
Lee44ShooterCnB
32 Cal
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His collection has been at various auctions since his passing.
It didn't sell at the Cowan's auction as listed on ProxiBid, 'passed' means no bids meeting the minimum:
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I recently purchased one of Derrick's rifles. Should I post it in the Flintlock Rifle Forum ? Or the Photos Forum, since I know what I have.
Rick
Rick
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overdecorated to my taste / but excellant(spell) architecture
