East India Company Wall Gun by Henry Nock,

East India Company Wall Gun by Henry Nock, London, 1793. 53 3/8 in., barrel with a bore diameter of 1 in., blade front sight, ring decorated breach, trace of Tower ordnance proof marks on the top with inspectors' marks crown over '15' and crown over '17,' the left side with crown over 'EI' barrel maker's mark and broad arrow over 'TP' mark; flat lock plate with double line border engraving, pointed tail with '1793' and East India Company emblem, 'H/NOCK' and crown over 'I' below the pan; later ordnance walnut stock with inspectors' marks behind the trigger guard, the right side of the butt marked with a broad arrow over 'BO' and 'I.C.R' and the rammer channel marked with several inspectors' marks, 'P.HARRIS' and '[--]INSON'; brass furniture including trigger guard with blunt finial, butt plate with long blunt tang, three rammer and an entry pipe; tapering steel rammer with button head and slot at the end; with forged iron yoke/swivel and custom wood stand. Overall lg. 72 1/2 in. Condition: Very good overall condition, barrel mostly toned to light brown, lock is mostly bright with light gray mottling; stock has scattered dings, dents and blemishes, small loss on the right side of the barrel channel at the muzzle, brass toned to dark yellow; lock functions properly. Footnotes: Note The British arms shortage experienced by the Board Ordnance in the early 1790s prompted the East India Company to transfer a large quantity of firearms to the Board to buttress its depleted stores. This included 300 wall pieces of which the present piece is likely one of those transferred as it bears proof marks indicating that it was re-proofed at Tower for ordnance use (Howard L. Blackmore, British Military Firearms 1650-1850, (London: Herbert Jenkins, 1961), p. 133). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing