BLUNDERBUSS FROM YORK MAIL

[Matchlock]

Hi Chris,

With most auction houses, past sales can still be traced in their archives - so I really look foward to seeing those!

Best,
Michael

[laEspadaAncha]

Hi Michael,

Being a small, regional house, I had assumed they didn't archive their past auction lots, but fortunately, I was wrong.

Here's the one I thought long and hard about, as I really *wanted* to believe it was legitimate, but the gestalt was off... way off.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts... while sharp and pointy objects are well within my comfort zone, I am (overly) cautious about antique firearms. Someone such as yourself with far greater knowledge might pick up on clues that are invisible to me...

Best,

Chris

[Matchlock]

Thank you, Chris,

Sadly I am not expert enough to really competently comment on this. 18th century Mediterranean miquelet guns are too far out of my range of expertise.

So please forgive me for not being able to utter any substantial cristicism on this item. Stylistically, I cannot trace out really dubious aspects.

Gentlemen, I know we have a few experts here - would you like to comment?

Best,
Michael

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Hi Michael,

Being a small, regional house, I had assumed they didn't archive their past auction lots, but fortunately, I was wrong.

Here's the one I thought long and hard about, as I really *wanted* to believe it was legitimate, but the gestalt was off... way off.

I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts... while sharp and pointy objects are well within my comfort zone, I am (overly) cautious about antique firearms. Someone such as yourself with far greater knowledge might pick up on clues that are invisible to me...

Best,

Chris

The wood for this pistol is for me very suspect ,it's like a new stock I have the same opinion about the barrel and lock ..
Cerjak

[laEspadaAncha]

Thank you Cerjak & Michael for your thoughts, and Cerjak, I apologize for the digression from the stated topic of the thread: your beautiful blunderbuss.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

The wood for this pistol is for me very suspect ,it's like a new stock I have the same opinion about the barrel and lock ..
Cerjak

I am certainly no authority, but that is the first thing that struck me about this pistol also .

[Matchlock]

Gentlemen, I beg to differ.

I may not match your expertise in 18th century arms but over more than 35 years I have collected hundreds of 14th-17th century guns, related items and Gothic and Renaissance iron work, let alone completely dismantled many hundreds of 18th-19th items and passed expert opinions on them.

I cannot see any argument why the iron parts and the stock (the original polish was probably taken off the latter) should be fake. Who on earth should do that - and why? Imagine the price you can possibly get ...

Best,
Michael

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Gentlemen, I beg to differ.

I may not match your expertise in 18th century arms but over more than 35 years I have collected hundreds of 14th-17th century guns, related items and Gothic and Renaissance iron work, let alone completely dismantled many hundreds of 18th-19th items and passed expert opinions on them.

I cannot see any argument why the iron parts and the stock (the original polish was probably taken off the latter) should be fake. Who on earth should do that - and why? Imagine the price you can possibly get ...

Best,
Michael

Thank you Michael, the removal of polish certainly would change the appearance of the piece; so much patina lost !