364

Very Fine Unmarked Club Butt ''Buccaneer'' Long Fowler

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,800.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Very Fine Unmarked Club Butt ''Buccaneer'' Long Fowler
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 23 @ 09:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
About .75 cal., 51 1/2'' round barrel with an oxidized bore. This is a very handsome and attractive club butt fowler, following very closely the contours and construction of the French ''buccaneer'' guns issued by the French Navy for topsail firing. The barrel itself is an overall very pleasing smooth plum brown patina showing light incise engraving with medial rings at the breech, a brass banded appliqué about a 12'' forward with light incise engraving and a raised chiseled face, much of the detail lost to the years due to the soft nature of the brass, with dual medial rings ahead of this. Nearer the muzzle we find a simple scant brass blade front sight and there is actually a seam about 8 1/2'' from the muzzle which can be detected, however it appears original in every respect to the gun and not an example of ''stretching'' as the interior is seamless and exhibits the same oxidation its full-length, and a very close inspection of the stock shows absolutely no evidence of it being stretched. The gun is a later percussion conversion by the drum and nipple method and features a T. Ketland & Co. lock with a gunsmith-made percussion hammer, the plate fitting the inletting of the stock very well. This example has the oft-seen brass nose plate about 5'' in length with small medials, it being somewhat loose, its retaining pin not present. There are four simple ramrod thimbles and a simple tailpipe while the triggerguard has a fleur-de-lis front extension and beveled edges with very light incise engraving. There is a flat sideplate which is lightly engraved and the heavy brass buttplate has a slightly ornate tang with light incise engraving as well. The stock itself appears to be a tight grained maple or other hardwood with a rich tobacco-russet color and blackened soot and grime from the years within the recesses, adding to the extremely honest untouched character of the arm. There are of course the expected light dings and handling marks here and there, with a few small chips or cracks along the barrel channel. Both flats have light islands with scallop shell carving to the rear of the tang and very French deep comb flutes with a light incise groove carved. There is a silver oval monogram plate atop the wrist neatly engraved ''SB'' and there is an antique ramrod included which is likely a replacement. The arm is strikingly similar to examples seen in Flintlock Fowlers The First Guns Made in America © Grinslade 2005, in the chapter on club butt fowlers. While the stock appears very much to be Yankee wood, the balance of the arm is very French in its in character, especially the applied face atop the barrel, it is very possibly a Yankee restock utilizing the same stock design as the original parent musket. An extremely attractive and honest club butt musket measuring 67'' overall length. (3D11739-95) {ANTIQUE} [Former Peter Tillou Collection] (4000/6000)