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FANCY EARLY LARGE HIGH QUALITY FLINTLOCK SILVER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
FANCY EARLY LARGE HIGH QUALITY FLINTLOCK SILVER

MOUNTED FULL STOCK MUSKET/FOWLER. Cal. 65. NSN. The 56 3/4" barrel goes from octagonal section at breech through 16 fluted sides to rnd. w/ 4" fluted section w/ turned bands. There is floral engraving on breech section on top 3 flats & an unknown armorer's mark at rear of top flat. A finely cast pierced silver sighting saddle wraps around bbl. 9" from breech end. Lock w/ arched & rounded plate features relief carved fancy cock, inset rounded pan, unbridled friction frizzen & feather spring w/ foliate finial. Plate is delicately engraved w/ scrolling acanthus highlighted by human figure. Full length stock appears to be of dark walnut & is silver mounted. Butt measures 3" across & is covered by a very heavy silver plate w/ top tang which extends to point of comb & has 2 added sweeping tendrils w/ tulip finials on each side. Trigger guard is double beaded & finials have many scroll piercings. Heavy relief cast scrolled sideplate is finely detailed. Stock is pinned to bbl. & there is relief carving around bbl. tang w/ a grotesque head between tang & point of comb. More acanthus carving is around thimble. Old ramrod w/ metal cap is held by 3 turned silver pipes & matching thimble. CONDITION: good. Bbl. & lock cleaned to silver gray w/ some remaining light pitting. Stock is also good, appears to be sound w/ a few minor cracks present around sideplate. There are also some checks in butt. Bbl. channel is good w/ a few minor repairs noted. Stock also appears to have had some new oil added giving it some shine. Silver shows copper tones on edges but is generally good w/ some lifting & minor loss on long tang of buttplate. Bore is good, lightly frosted. Lock is fine. A lg. impressive early flintlock fowler. PROVENANCE: From the Collection of James B. Taylor. (01-20484/MGM). ANTIQUE. $6,000-8,000.