1777 Dated British-Style American Fowler,

1777 Dated British-Style American Fowler, c. 1775. 53 in., .70 caliber octagon to round French barrel with crown over intertwined 'NC' on the left side, top flat extending to the front brass blade sight, notch rear sight; British ordnance lock with double line border engraving, pointed tail engraved 'GRICE/1760' and crown over 'GR' with crowned broad arrow mark below the pan; tiger maple stock with raised carving around the lock mortice, side plate plateau, foliate carving with tendrils around the breech plug tang and entry pipe, wavy carving in front of the lock and side plate areas, and carved plateau along the rammer channel; brass furniture including a trigger guard with rounded finials and foliate engraving on the bow; butt plate with stepped and pointed tang with engraved bird and foliate decoration and punched date '1777,' thumb piece with scrolling border with punched initials 'JD,' flat side plate with leaf shaped end and foliate scroll engraving, three cast brass rammer pipes and an entry pipe; steel rammer with button head and threaded end. Overall lg. 68 in. Condition: Barrel and lock toned to deep brown, lock top jaw and jaw screw are old replacements; stock has repaired break through the lock area that is a bit loose, loss to front edge of lock mortice molding; brass toned to yellow. Footnotes: Provenance Acquired from Norm Flayderman. Literature Illustrated and described in Tom Grinslade, Flintlock Fowlers The First Guns Made in America, American Fowling Pieces from 1700-1820, (Pottsboro, Texas: Crazy Crow Trading Post, 2005), p. 186. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing