Late 19th Century Belgian Made Flintlock African Trade Gun

.60 caliber. 51.5" pinned octagon to round barrel with baluster turned rings at the transition. SN: NSN. Moderately oxidized bright metal toning to brown, brass furniture, European hardwood stock likely of beech. Flat pointed lock in original flint with rounded iron fenced and bridled pan and rounded swan neck cock. The lock is unmarked. Barrel with "E/LG/*" in an oval Liege proof. The overall pattern is the classic "trade gun" of the late 18th and early 19th century, but likely produced closer to the turn of the 20th century with more simplified furniture. On this gun the classic "serpent side plate" was replaced with a simple flat brass side plate, but the oversized triggerguard was retained, although in brass rather than iron. The corrugated brass thimbles are retained, along with the rudimentary raised carved moldings behind the lock mortise, counterpane and around the breech plug tang were retained. In this case the barrel is extremely long, suggesting that the market this gun was intended for had particularly low quality powder and the extra length was necessary for complete burning. What appears to be the original button head iron ramrod is included. A very nice example of one of the last of the flintlock "trade guns" not intended for the use of North American Natives, but rather natives of some of the most remote regions of the world, probably for use as last as the early 20th century.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

The Collection of Larry Ness