Product Details
GEO. FORREST & SONS, JEDBURGH and THOMPSON, EDINBURGH
AN UNUSUAL CASED PERCUSSION RIFLE AND SPORTING GUN SET, serial no. 844 and none visible,
the first circa 1855 and of 60-bore, single shot with 31 1/2in. browned octagonal sighted barrel, the top-flat signed 'GEO FORREST & SONS, JEDBURGH' in script within a border of scrolls, scroll engraved patent breech with platinum plug, fully scroll engraved top-tang, borderline and scroll engraved lockplate also featuring an engraving of a tiger to the front and a bolting stag to the tail, the lock signed 'GEO. FORREST & SONS', sliding safe forwards of the scroll engraved dolphin headed hammer, walnut half-stock chequered at the wrist, engraved iron furniture including pistol-grip spurred trigger-guard tang and original brass mounted mahogany ramrod, the second circa 1790 but converted from flintlock by drum and nipple, slightly shortened double 29 1/4in. twist barrels of 20-bore signed in gold on the top-rib 'EDINBURGH', the breech-block with gold lines and poincons signed 'THOMPSON' (some losses to gold), flat, slightly curved bevel-edged step-tailed locks with gold inlaid seated hunting dogs supporting shields engraved 'THOMPSON', further border and scroll engraving, slab-sided scroll engraved dolphin-headed hammers, walnut half-stock chequered at the wrist with oval silver escutcheon engraved with a cockerel above a wreath below the motto 'IN DUBIIS CONSTANS', iron furniture including engraved long-spurred heel-plate, scrolled-grip trigger-guard tang, the oversized bow with gold inlaid shield, and retaining its original brass mounted ramrod TOGETHER WITH an English two-tier oak storage case lined and compartmented specifically for these guns in coarse green baize, the rifle contained within the top tray with the sporting gun beneath and also retaining a number of period accessories including five flasks, five moulds, two cap tins, a canvas gun sleeve, a nipple-key combination tool and other sundry items
Provenance: This Lot is accompanied by a dossier of letters pertaining to a previous owner, Admiral Sir Adam Brunton Messer, M.D., R.N.
Messer spent much of his naval career as Fleet Surgeon aboard several ships. One of the letters is from the makers of the rifle, Forrest and Sons, who wrote to Messer who was aboard the sloop H.M.S. Pelican at Malta.
Other Notes: The Lot is also accompanied by a framed photograph of Messer given by him to 'May' and dated Christmas 1902.
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Estimate £2,000-3,000