357 A 25 BORE FLINTLOCK PISTOL BY HADLEY, LONDON, PRIVATE PROOF MARKS, CIRCA 1770 with brass three-stage turn-off barrel numbered ‘1’, numbered breech, brass action signed on a scroll on the left, inscribed ‘London’ on a further scroll on the right and delicately engraved with rococo scrolls and flowers throughout, flat sided walnut butt inlaid with silver wire scrolls and pellets (some inlay replaced), the spine inlaid en suite, and engraved sliding triggerguard safety-catch 13.7cm; 5 3/8in barrel
357
‡ £600-800 358 A FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSS PISTOL BY KNUBLEY, LONDON, CIRCA 1800 with brass barrel formed in three stages divided by raised mouldings, swelling strongly towards the muzzle, octagonal over the breech, fitted with a pair of ramrodpipes on the right and beneath with sprung bayonet, signed box-lock action decorated with a trophy-of-arms on each side (tang screw replaced), sliding thumb-piece safetycatch, engraved steel trigger-guard sliding to release the bayonet, flat-sided walnut butt, and vacant silver escutcheon 23.2cm; 9 1/8in barrel
358
‡ £1500-2000 359 A FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSS PISTOL BY DOIDGE, PLYMOUTH DOCK, CIRCA 1800 with two-stage brass barrel swelling strongly towards the muzzle, formed with raised mouldings and stamped with County Down census number ‘D-N10715’ over the octagonal breech, fitted beneath with sprung bayonet, box-lock action signed in script on the left and inscribed ‘Plymouth Dock’ on the right, each beneath a rococo swag, sliding thumb-piece safety-catch, trigger-guard engraved with a rococo flower and sliding to release the bayonet, and flatsided walnut butt 18.5cm; 7 1/4in barrel
359
John Doidge is recorded as gunmaker and sword cutler in Plymouth Dock circa 1797. ‡ £1500-2000
167