Long Barrel Flintlock Sporting Gun

[Feltwad]

Enclosed are images of a flintlock sporting gun of approximately 1800-1810. The gun is a 24 bore with a iron 43-inch barrel with English proof marks but a Spanish made barrel and stamped withe letter F , the lock does not have a name and the furniture is all brass
Feltwad

 

[Rudyard]

Dear Felt Wad. I once had a 12 bore flint gun about the same date but re use of an older barrel The barrel was 50" and quite massive at the breach I figured it was a sort of Magnum of its day . The Farmer who's land I shot on said "We can see thee cummin afore we can see thee" Wish Ide have kept it but I had a lot pass through my hands like we do
Regards Rudyard .

 

[Feltwad]

Yes, the gun has a long barrel, but 43-inch s is rather unusual has most are 40 or 42, it is one of three flintlocks two singles and a double I have bought in the last month all are smooth bore sporting guns
Feltwad

 

[Feltwad]

You will find that these import Sanish barrels were common in the flintlock era, most were of iron with a wavy figure with light and dark brown some had a green pattern, I have restored a number of single barrel flintlocks and flintlock conversions with these types of barrels, these were proofed in London and later in Birmingham, but all were stamped with letter F
Feltwad

 

[Rudyard]

F for foreigner IE not a member of the Gunmakers Company / Guild however they styled themselves probably threw in Worshipful or two. 'They seemed to use such force as Youde think they wanted to punch through . I stocked up a nice and very old Barrel by Alonzo Martinez certainly looked like they wanted to do I've another by Roxas same . They used Turkish barrels, Indonesian ones all sorts as took the customers fancy if both sources produced good barrels If commonly Spanish or Italian ones . Some might have been out of the" Grand tour 'Sul veneer that many of the wealthy would take, Sort of the Big OE for todays Back packers . Regards & good on you for shewing us such goodies .
Rudyard

 

[3Setters]

What game was a gun like this used for?

 

[Notchy Bob]

Thanks for showing that gun, @Feltwad ! It's a beauty.

The coloration on the octagonal section of the barrel is spectacular!

The "spider" front sight is interesting. I understand those were generally used on the "Chief's Guns" traded or gifted to some of the American natives, but not on the more common guns.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Daryl Crawford]

What caused that interesting coloration on the barrel? Was it the metal or the finish on it?

 

[Feltwad]

What game was a gun like this used for?

Although the gun is a small bore {24}it was mainly used for shooting small game such has partridge, woodcock, snipe etc
Feltwad

 

[Feltwad]

Thanks for showing that gun, @Feltwad ! It's a beauty.

The coloration on the octagonal section of the barrel is spectacular!

The "spider" front sight is interesting. I understand those were generally used on the "Chief's Guns" traded or gifted to some of the American natives, but not on the more common guns.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

The spider front sight is not uncommon on the early single barrel flint shotguns I have come across this several times on restoration also the coloration of the wavy pattern it is the type of metal used which browning brings out the figure same has Damascus twist
Feltwad

 

[Colonial Boy]

Nice gun indeed, colour me a bit green!!

 

[user 48702]

Very nice! Reminds me of the gun I bought from Mulebrain back in July of this year. Originally thought it to be a .62/24 gauge, come to find out it has a 44" inch Colerain Turkey Choke barrel, 20 gauge taper choked to 24 gauge, with a Chambers Virginia lock. I've been testing different wadding and was surprised to find that I can get the gun to open the pattern to more like a modified choke, Already shot several squirrels.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Not a very long one --Only 39" originally Rusted17b. now 14b.
Name says RYAN & WATSON. (B'ham proof). Shewn in Brum 1777--1830
Found as a deralict drum & nipple convert and in process of trying to make
Silk purse.. Lock is a rebuild to flint as it was when built. 8lb. but handles well.

 

[user 48702]

I love it. Does anyone have any history on the half stock fowler/sporting guns? Earliest date or how common they were?

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I love it. Does anyone have any history on the half stock fowler/sporting guns? Earliest date or how common they were?

Plenty high end ones back to the 1720's and 30's

 

[Gaisgeach45]

Enclosed are images of a flintlock sporting gun of approximately 1800-1810. The gun is a 24 bore with a iron 43-inch barrel with English proof marks but a Spanish made barrel and stamped withe letter F , the lock does not have a name and the furniture is all brass
Feltwad
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Hello Feltwad, I have a old Smoothbore with a almost identical narrow with the x on the bead sight and browned the same way I saw that you said it was a Spanish barrel mine is marked L W below the breach with English Proofs, do you know and more about such barrels, cheers.

 

[2 shots]

some very nice items indeed