1157 - (A) VERY EARLY DUTCH FLINTLOCK TRADE FOWLER. Manufacturer: Dutch Model: Fowler Caliber/Bore: .60 Smoothbore Barrel Length: 46 - 15/16” FFL Status: Antique Tapered smoothbore iron barrel with top flat and faceted breech section. Small brass half moon sight applied to top near muzzle. Early banana lockplate with rounded face, unbridled pan, and decorated with thin relief molding around outside edge. Iron furniture of classic Dutch or Germanic form, including a symmetrical wrist escutcheon, a five stage buttplate tang decorated with foliate scrolls, a pierced sideplate with scrollwork and a sea serpent. Early trigger guard terminating at both ends with an arrow. Turned ramrod ferrules. Plain walnut stock of early Dutch form carved with relief teardrop around barrel tang and sideplate. Complete with period, probably original wooden ramrod. CONDITION: Barrel and lock retain a heavy, dark patina with scattered spotting and some corrosion, especially around pan and breech. Furniture retains a mostly dark patina with some scattered areas of heavy surface patina or minor corrosion. Foremost ramrod ferrule is a later replacement and ramrod entry ferrule shows some losses at point of entry. Stock shows heavy wear from carrying and smoothing to carving. There are some scattered marks from use and some splinters absent along both sides of forend, some pieces of forend have been reattached with a few minor slivers having been professionally replaced. PROVENANCE: Ex. Ed Louer, Wallace Gusler Collection (inside of trigger guard bow is marked “GUSLER 58”). A very fine and early Dutch trade fowler. Examples in this condition are rarely sold. 6,000 - 12,000
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www.MorphyAuctions.com | October 30, 2019