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FINE ITALIAN LORENZONI REPEATING FLINTLOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
FINE ITALIAN LORENZONI REPEATING FLINTLOCK

SPORTING GUN BY THE CECCHI BROTHERS (ACQUA FRESCA) OF BARGI. Cal. 52. NSN. The Lorenzoni system for making repeating flintlock guns was developed around 1700. It was fairly efficient and developed quite a following throughout Europe and into Great Britian. It was produced for a relatively long time. The system used a rotating drum set transversely that picked up a charge of powder and a ball from magazines loaded through the butt. Rotating the lever on left side deposited charge and ball into chamber in breech section. Continuing the rotation of the lever cocked the hammer and closed frizzen. Returning the lever to original position exposed powder in the pan making gun ready to fire. Most of these guns have barrels that were easily dismounted with tapered heavy thread. Barrels were usually smooth bored. Bores were generally tapered from breech to muzzle to increase accuracy. This gun has 32 1/4" barrel with octagon rear section which transitions to sixteen sided; then to round through turned band and terminates in a heavy raised band at muzzle with large sight bead. Two piece full length walnut forend is pinned to barrel and a fancy steel tipped ramrod mounts through two fancy turned pipes and matching tail pipe. Iron decoration at rear is pierced in the form of scrolling acanthus and has grotesque face at center. Action has deep sighting "V" on top and brass rotating drum. Back spring flintlock is engraved "Acgua Fresca" "Bargi" (The fairly well known Cecchi brothers, Matteo and Pietro that worked together in the early 18th century). They were known for their exceptionally fine deep chiseled metal work which shows up on the beautifully sculpted serpentine cock, as well as the face and tail of frizzen found on this gun. Other high relief carvings of note are on the lever retaining spring on left side of action. Non relief, but finely detailed engraving extends to fine attenuated scrolls overall, along with the torso of man on lock plate, a phoenix on pan housing and coiled sea monster on frizzen cocking dog. Trigger guard finial is pierced and engraved with grotesque face. Straight grip buttstock of burl grain walnut has heavy steel hinged buttplate covering access to powder and ball magazines with release button on toe. Thin top tang extends to within 3/4" from point of comb. CONDITION: good with some restoration. Metal parts are cleaned to silver gray over light pitting. Wood has most of an old finish probably renewed, with marks and scratches. Forend wood, probably an early replacement over most of its length. Two pieces of wood make up first 3" at breech end. Some screws show replacement in action, hinged buttplate will not open. Stock shows some losses of wood and replacement around lockplate. Bore is good, mechanically good. (01-21981/MGM). ANTIQUE. $7,000-12,000.