British Swivel Blunderbuss
1.7" at muzzle, nominally 1.25" bore, 22.25" flared iron barrel with baluster turned rings as breech, no S/N. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock, iron swivel mount, weighs about 14 pounds. 6.75" rounded lock terminating in a point, engraved {crown} / GR forward of the cock and TOWER vertically behind the cock. Lock with fenced and bridled iron pan, rounded reinforced cock may be a replacement. Lock assembly marked to the gun. Barrel with weak London commercial proofs that have been mostly obliterated by an old cleaning. Wooden ramrod with brass ferrule reinforcement at tip is retained by a single trumpet-shaped thimble. Period iron swivel mount in place through stock. Brass buttplate engraved with a {crown} / {broad arrow} / 1705. While the simple buttplate may be from that period, the balance of the gun is certainly post-1777 as the lock shows the short sear (two screws visible behind cock) that was introduced at that time. Simple flat, S-shaped sideplate with finial to rear is certainly post-1742 period. Stock with raised apron carving around breech plug tang, but none of the raised moldings around the lock typical of British military arms from the second quarter of the 18th century. The gun likely dates from the last quarter of the 18th or first quarter of the 19th century, using some older, re-purposed parts.
Condition:
Good. Iron barrel aggressively cleaned removing most of the markings and leaving some small pits. Metal with a dull gray color with a brownish cast. Mechanically functional, dirty, oxidized and rusted bore is about fair, with a large pillar in the breech. Stock with wear and numerous bumps and dings, particularly around the swivel mount. There is a large crack that starts at the counterpane travels through the wrist and terminates in the lock mortise. This should has been stabilized immediately to prevent further damage. Small repair on top of comb, grain crack on reverse of butt, running to the belly of the stock. Swivel mount heavy oxidized and deeply pitted. Front lock mounting screw is an old replacement.
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