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Old 14th August 2011, 06:37 PM   #2
fernando
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
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Hi Rick,
Bustindui is the name of four barrel makers from Basque Guipúzcoa.
Agustin Bustindui was the older one and died before 1795. The other three were possibly his sons and disciples:
Agustin Bustindui Ruis, who had a barrel made and mounted on a shotgun with the date 1802.
Juan Esteban Bustindui, mentioned as an outstanding smith, having made the finest barrels, was recorded by a writer who visited him in 1791.
Santos Bustindui, who might have also worked in Eibar but was known as having been worked in Valencia in 1810.
Based on Lavin's book, apparently only Juan Esteban and Santos had punction marks. The crowned initials one on your barrel 'resemble' those of Juan Esteban, but the second punction with a rampant lion is missing right below. On the other hand, the crowned initials should be placed in three rows: BVS TIN DVI.
You should also consider that, famous smiths like this family often had their marks faked by others.

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