Product Details
EX W. KEITH NEAL: FORSYTH & CO., LONDON
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE 19-BORE SELF-PRIMING SPORTING GUN, serial no. 738/739,
believed for 1813, with expertly re-browned 31 3/4in. twist iron barrels, sunken top-rib signed 'FORSYTH & CO PATENT GUN MAKERS LONDON', small gold coloured boat shaped fore-sight, colour-hardened breech-blocks with twin gold bands and engraved rib-end, fully engraved top-tang with carved and engraved sighting groove, flat locks with engraved bevel edges, borderline engraving and florally engraved details, the locks further signed 'FORSYTH & CO, PATENT' and featuring hunting dogs engraved to the tails, both locks fitted with first pattern patent roller primers operated by bars connected to the special hammers, chequered walnut half-stock, the wrist with octagonal gold escutcheon engraved with the crest of the Earl of Yarborough, period applied leather cheek-pad (worn), re-blued engraved iron furniture including raised pistol-grip lower tang, eyelets for sling and complete with its brass tipped ebony ramrod and W. Keith Neal collection medallion numbered 'G40'
Provenance: This famous shotgun has been photographed and featured in many publications but most notably can be found on plates 1, 18 & 19 in W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back's book Forsyth & Co: Patent Gunmaker with further text on pages 39-40
Previously sold Christies, London, Lot 15, 25th. October 2001
Estimate £10,000-15,000