3366

SUPERB QUALITY CLASSIC ERA FRENCH DOUBLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
SUPERB QUALITY CLASSIC ERA FRENCH DOUBLE

FLINTLOCK SHOTGUN BY JACQUES LACAILLE OF BLOIS WITH CUSTOM CASE AND FINE EARLY ACCESSORIES BY BOCHEIeur. Cal. 24 Ga. .586 bore diameter. S# NSN. Jacques Lacaille was working in Blois central France (about 100 miles south of Paris) 1775-1829. His work is of the highest order, but is not overstated. The 34" barrels without patent breeches have gold lined touch holes. Rear portions of barrels and narrow sunken rib are engraved and gold washed with garlands of flowers and leaves spilling from vases. Silver bead front sight is surrounded by engraved and gold washed starburst. Bottom of left barrel is stamped "GIRAUD DUMARES" and with rampant lion logo (Circa 1766-1824 St. Etienne, iron worker and finisher). Bottom right barrel is stamped "TORDU" (twisted). Breech iron is well filed and engraved. Superb quality locks with round bodied slightly arched plates having relief filed ball tails, are fitted with serpentine cocks. Beautifully filed inset rounded waterproof pans, with scroll filed fences, are gold lined. Bridled roller frizzens are well filed and engraved. Rollers are on intricately filed feather springs which have pad and spear finials. Lockplates are engraved in foliate motifs within geometric and line borders. This engraving extends to cocks and frizzens. Right lock plate is engraved "Fait Par" "Lacaille Jne". Left lockplate is engraved "Blois". Trigger plate is shaped and engraved depicting a neoclassical urn motif with floral accents. Steel trigger guard is finely relief filed with spider web at front of fluted bow and has shallow curled tail forming grip. Stock of dense fiddle figured French walnut measures 13 3/4" over heavy, fancy filed and engraved steel buttplate. Stock features leather covered comb retained by tacked on steel band and fish scale "checkering" at grip and forend. Fancy thimble which matches trigger plate and breech iron are surrounded by beautifully carved relief floral and acanthus motifs. Stock attaches to barrels with single captive sidebolt through cast silver engraved oval escutcheons. Replacement hickory ramrod with brass tip and tail, mounts through two heavy ring turned pipes, rear pipe has eye for sling loop. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2 5/8". DAC: 1 1/4". CAST: neutral. LOP: 13 3/4". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 7 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: newly custom made dovetailed case with dual hook and key lock closure is of well marbled European walnut. Case is lined in royal blue cloth and has compartments for barrels, stock, locks and some fine accessories. Notably a German silver mounted pressed horn powder flask with pivoting charging spout, along with a brass and leather shot flask with similar type spout; both are marked "BOCHEIeur A PARIS". Also included are a copper bodied small powder flask of foliate shape and German silver shot and powder measure marked "PLOMB" and "POUDRE". There are two covered compartments with brass knobs, one holds a sling loop and a key the other two old possibly original remnants of cock with screws and top jaws. CONDITION: very good. Barrels retaining traces of their original blue were protected but are mostly gray brown and retain nearly 60% gold wash. Locks are well polished to near silver over some very light staining, pans retain most of their gold lining. Cocks are exceptionally well done reproductions with original cocks used as patterns for modification of high quality castings from E. J. Blackly & Son. New cocks are engraved with scroll to match. Remnants of old cocks in case. Stock shows light cleaning and oil refinish over a good scattering of marks both light and heavy. Intricate carving shows moderate wear. Other metal parts show light cleaning to gray brown patina with little or no pitting. Bores are shiny with light pitting throughout with one or two deeper pits evident. Locks are fine. Case retains nearly all of its oil finish. Interior cloth is fine. Powder flask is good, shot flask fine, other accessories are good. (01-22755/MGM). ANTIQUE. $5,000-8,000.