Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed
Without going thru books to verify it, those proof marks look british. Could this be a coach gun or warders gun of some sort?
|
This is a sort of blunderbuss, called "bacamarte" in Portuguese and "trabuco" in Castillian, as also optionaly in Portuguese.
These things were usualy a setup made with parts from different origins, mostly that of the barrels. Often a result of regional assembly, by the local smiths. They were largely used in the Peninsula in the beg/mid XIX century, when civilians needed to assure their safety, firstly from invading army astray guys (Napoleonic wars) and later from a consequent troubled period, where outlaws or desperate assailants abunded.
They were very short and handy, easy to conceal under the owner's cape.
This particular one has indeed a .75 British barrel, shortened to 17 inches and "atrabucado" or "abacamartado" ( muzzle widened), mounted on a stock so called "a la Catalunian", and equiped with an action lock of the "patilha" (Miquelete) type, of late generation. Note this is originaly for percussion and not converted from flint, as so often seen.
The barrel was made by some famous John Clive. The trigger guard and ram rod pipe are also British.
Although its stock and lock are basicaly Spanish, this doesn't avoid that it could have being assembled in Portugal. Both cultures and methods were not so strange to each other. It could have also been brought by some Spaniard through the borders, which at the time were not so well defined. In fact, the seller has traded it very close from the (nowadays) Spanish frontier.
Anyway, i find it a very elegant piece.
Fernando