Product Details
ROBERT, PARIS
A RARE 20-BORE (APPROX) PATENT TAB-FIRE DOUBLE-BARRELLED BREECH-LOADING SPORTING-GUN, no visible serial number,
dated for 1834, with 26 1/8in. fine-twist damascus barrels signed 'FUSIL ROBERT BTE A PARIS' in gold towards the breech, the breech engraved with a floral band and deeply struck with two oval makers marks of 'A.B.' below a crown, bead fore-sight, border and acanthus scroll engraved hinged tip-up hammerless breech signed in gilt on the top 'MEDAILLES D'OR EXPOSITION DE 1834' over 'ACADEMIE DE L'INDUSTRIE' over 'SOCIETE D'ENCOURAGEM'T', long locking lever extending to the comb of the butt, the internal face of the action signed 'CHAUDUN BREVETE' and mounted with two internal anvils, fruit-wood one-piece half-stock chequered at the wrist, carved finial to the splinter fore-end, iron furniture engraved en suite with the breech, and iron sling eyes.
Other Notes: A contemporary of Pauly (q.v.), Robert embraced Pauly's idea for a self contained cartridge and 'improved' it by replacing the exposed fulminate central primer of the Pauly design with a flat extended folded copper 'tab' of fulminate that was mounted perpendicular to the cartridge base. Internal hammers struck these tabs against anvils within the action, firing the charge. Unfortunately the design was not a great success as corrosion problems soon arose and this together with the ease of accidentally detonating the cartridges when being transported in a bag or pocket lead to many accidents and correspondingly low volumes of sales
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Estimate £1,800-2,200
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament