Fancy French Blunderbuss, c1750

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

You may chose between magnificent and superb, Dana !
I wouldn't mind having one of these instead of a handful of my blunderbusses. Can you show us a close up of the frizzen face ... must be something amazing.

I took a shot of that yesterday and will post it soon.

Originally Posted by fernando

I wouldn't know if Jean-Louis was 'only' famous for his hunting weapons but, as publicized in the label you posted, Louis was able to "produce and sell a wide variety of weapons, from edged to firearms, including tromblons (blunderbusses); gold and silver mounted, as also in polished steel, as per English taste".
You know that these top luxury weapons didn't have to see field use, as they were mainly made to embellish the houses of rich customers. In a period when 'signs of wealth' were shown by having several (oil) paintings hanging in walls, these high end guns served the same purpose. Still today the term we use for closet, 'armoire' in French and 'armario' in Portuguese, derives from the term 'arms', which originally was where arms were hanging, those luxurious ones being well at sight, right as you entered wealthy residences. As said, not necessarily for use but, for exhibition..

Unlike many fancy weapons that I've handled this one shows some signs it was carried and used.

Originally Posted by fernando

Also to note some confusion out there with Louis having lived between 1747-1791, whereas that was the living dates of Jean-Louis..

Thanks for the info.

[dana_w]

Here you go Fernando, a magnificent & superb frizzen.

[fernando]

Excellent, Dana !
Speaking of outstanding frizzens, i have once seen (and handled) a beautiful musket in the collection of a well known personality, in which the frizzen had the face of Voltaire, so that its owner, who hated him, could shoot his face at will.
... Believe it or not, that's what i was told.

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

Excellent, Dana !
Speaking of outstanding frizzens, i have once seen (and handled) a beautiful musket in the collection of a well known personality, in which the frizzen had the face of Voltaire, so that its owner, who hated him, could shoot his face at will.
... Believe it or not, that's what i was told.

I believe it. Wish this piece was marked with the owner's name.

[fernando]

Still if you dismount the barrel, you may find other marks.

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

Still if you dismount the barrel, you may find other marks.

I'm not ready to "dismount the barrel" but I doubt the owner information would be found there anyway. The maker's name can also be found engraved forward of the trigger guard. Note the wear that supports the likely hood that this weapon was more than a wall hanger.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by dana_w

I'm not ready to "dismount the barrel" but I doubt the owner information would be found there anyway...

I meant 'other' marks, not that of the one who signs the gun work. One other i know signed by Louis Lamotte has under the barrel 'Jean Merley St. Etienne', the actual barrel maker.

Originally Posted by dana_w

...The maker's name can also be found engraved forward of the trigger guard. Note the wear that supports the likely hood that this weapon was more than a wall hanger.

Mind you Dana, i am not (at all) trying to demote your perfectly operational blunderbuss to a 'wall hanger' status; only suggesting that you don't go out on a daily basis with such luxurious piece; like the coaches you see at the Lisbon National Museum . Certainly the owners of these fine pieces had more mundane versions for current occasions ... says i .

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