Product Details
AN EXTREMELY RARE .52 2ND MODEL NOCK SEVEN BARRELLED FLINTLOCK VOLLEY GUN, CIRCA 1787, no visible serial number,
with a 20in. barrel clump stamped with Ordnance proofs at the breech, underside of barrels fitted with three brass rammer pipes, the top pipe with a retaining spring, the beveled edged lock of flat form engraved on the tail with the Crown G.R. TOWER cypher and a small crown arrow ordnance inspection stamp below the pan, fitted with a heavy ring-neck cock, the butt with handrail wrist and high comb and stamped with an Ordnance storekeepers mark (faint), there are two repairs where the butt joins the breech, one of which is under the lock and the other on the opposite side, these are weak spots on the Nock volley guns and many specimens are known with damage in these areas, another small repair to the toe of the butt
Provenance: Although known today as the Nock volley gun, it was designed and proposed to the Ordnance by a certain James Wilson. The Army could see no purpose for it considering it as impractical, the Navy on the other hand considered it could be of use to crow's nest sharp shooters. Initially two were made for trials these had rifled barrels and were made by Nock, from these trials the Navy decided to order 500, deliveries beginning in 1780. These early guns are known as first models, in 1787 another 100 were ordered these becoming second models of which this is one. There are some minor differences between the models, the most noticeable being the style of lock and engraving. In service they were not a success, the recoil being so great it could dislocate the shoulder (for this reason the load was reduced), there was also the problem of the muzzle blast setting fire to sails
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Estimate £8,000-10,000