BLUNDERBUSS FROM YORK MAIL

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi folks,

Are you sure that these posts on knives are placed in the right thread on a blunderbuss?!

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,

I would humbly argue it is relevant in the context of the question surrounding the font type that appears in the stamp(s) used on the muzzle... While it is commonly accepted that such font types did not appear until the 4th quarter of the 19th century, there seem to be multiple examples of the use of such a font well before the 'accepted' timeframe...

The presence of possible evidence supportive of an earlier (though surely uncommon) use of such a font type in dye stamps might prevent us from prematurely dismissing the stamps as inauthentic.

That being said, I recently saw at auction two very well done fakes, including a pistol that incorporated an original barrel but with questionable (if not altogether spurious) markings...

[Matchlock]

Agreed, EspadaAncha,

Thanks!

I guess we would all like to see those two fakes you mentioned! How about posting them after the auction is over?

Best,
Michael

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Agreed, EspadaAncha,

Thanks!

I guess we would all like to see those two fakes you mentioned! How about posting them after the auction is over?

Best,
Michael

Hi Michael,

The auction took place either in December or January, and I think - "think" being the operative word - I archived some photos of the piece or pieces in question. I'll search for them later today, and will definitely post them if I can find them...

Cheers,

Chris

[Matchlock]

Hi Chris,

With most auction houses, past sales can still be traced in their archives - so I really look foward to seeing those!

Best,
Michael

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Michael,

Being a small, regional house, I had assumed they didn't archive their past auction lots, but fortunately, I was wrong.

Here's the one I thought long and hard about, as I really *wanted* to believe it was legitimate, but the gestalt was off... way off.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts... while sharp and pointy objects are well within my comfort zone, I am (overly) cautious about antique firearms. Someone such as yourself with far greater knowledge might pick up on clues that are invisible to me...

Best,

Chris

[Matchlock]

Thank you, Chris,

Sadly I am not expert enough to really competently comment on this. 18th century Mediterranean miquelet guns are too far out of my range of expertise.

So please forgive me for not being able to utter any substantial cristicism on this item. Stylistically, I cannot trace out really dubious aspects.

Gentlemen, I know we have a few experts here - would you like to comment?

Best,
Michael

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Hi Michael,

Being a small, regional house, I had assumed they didn't archive their past auction lots, but fortunately, I was wrong.

Here's the one I thought long and hard about, as I really *wanted* to believe it was legitimate, but the gestalt was off... way off.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts... while sharp and pointy objects are well within my comfort zone, I am (overly) cautious about antique firearms. Someone such as yourself with far greater knowledge might pick up on clues that are invisible to me...

Best,

Chris

The wood for this pistol is for me very suspect ,it's like a new stock I have the same opinion about the barrel and lock ..
Cerjak

[laEspadaAncha]

Thank you Cerjak & Michael for your thoughts, and Cerjak, I apologize for the digression from the stated topic of the thread: your beautiful blunderbuss.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

The wood for this pistol is for me very suspect ,it's like a new stock I have the same opinion about the barrel and lock ..
Cerjak

I am certainly no authority, but that is the first thing that struck me about this pistol also .