EXCEPTIONALLY FINE, UNDERSTATED, FRENCH DOUBLE FLINT FOWLER WITH BAYONET BY B.T.E. THOMAS OF ST. ETIENNE.

SN NSN. Cal. 20 ga. (.615 Bore diameter) 31″ Round bbls with flat sides toward breech ends, are unmarked, and have long silver bead front sight set 3-1/2″ behind muzzles. A small stud on bottom rib engages a spring clip on attachable 5-1/2″ bayonet which is housed under trap in butt. Baleen ramrod with worm tail and horn tip is housed in single beaded pipe with wide sling loop. In typical French fashion ramrod tail extends well into butt. Breech plugs have platinum touch holes. Breech iron has tall ears as sighting aid. Locks with slightly arched plates, long bodies and long tails, have finely filed inset pans, and are fitted with bridled friction frizzens with nicely filed teats. Round bodied serpentine cocks have neatly filed in scrolled reinforcing. Lock tails are nicely filed with acanthus decoration. The only markings are makers name on right lockplate, and “St. Etienne” on left. (Thomas is listed as working in St. Etienne between 1804 and 1809 (in Heer’s)). Dark, somewhat burl figured European walnut stock has nicely cut coarse checkering at grip and forend with raised, carved acanthus at top of grip. Iron furniture is finely filed in relief decoration. Spring loaded trap with release lever on left side of butt houses bayonet. Drop at heel: 2-3/16″, drop at comb: 1-1/8″. Weight with bayonet: 6 lbs 0 oz. LOP: 13-1/4″. CONDITION: Good. Metal parts show an old cleaning, and are all silver to gray brown patina, with some scattered pitting on bbls. Stock is very fine with no noted repairs, and retains a considerable amount of what appears to be its orig finish with considerable hand wear, oil has been added over the years as maintenance, producing a very fine patina. Bores are good with some pitting toward muzzles. Locks and frizzens are crisp. A lovely and undoubtedly shootable French double. 48997-1 MGM10 (7,000-12,000) – Lot 3464

Auction: Firearms - October 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3464	$0.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE, UNDERSTATED, FRENCH DOUBLE FLINT FOWLER WITH BAYONET BY B.T.E. THOMAS OF ST. ETIENNE. SN NSN. Cal. 20 ga. (.615 Bore diameter) 31″ Round bbls with flat sides toward breech ends, are unmarked, and have long silver bead front sight set 3-1/2″ behind muzzles. A small stud on bottom rib engages a spring clip on attachable 5-1/2″ bayonet which is housed under trap in butt. Baleen ramrod with worm tail and horn tip is housed in single beaded pipe with wide sling loop. In typical French fashion ramrod tail extends well into butt. Breech plugs have platinum touch holes. Breech iron has tall ears as sighting aid. Locks with slightly arched plates, long bodies and long tails, have finely filed inset pans, and are fitted with bridled friction frizzens with nicely filed teats. Round bodied serpentine cocks have neatly filed in scrolled reinforcing. Lock tails are nicely filed with acanthus decoration. The only markings are makers name on right lockplate, and “St. Etienne” on left. (Thomas is listed as working in St. Etienne between 1804 and 1809 (in Heer’s)). Dark, somewhat burl figured European walnut stock has nicely cut coarse checkering at grip and forend with raised, carved acanthus at top of grip. Iron furniture is finely filed in relief decoration. Spring loaded trap with release lever on left side of butt houses bayonet. Drop at heel: 2-3/16″, drop at comb: 1-1/8″. Weight with bayonet: 6 lbs 0 oz. LOP: 13-1/4″. CONDITION: Good. Metal parts show an old cleaning, and are all silver to gray brown patina, with some scattered pitting on bbls. Stock is very fine with no noted repairs, and retains a considerable amount of what appears to be its orig finish with considerable hand wear, oil has been added over the years as maintenance, producing a very fine patina. Bores are good with some pitting toward muzzles. Locks and frizzens are crisp. A lovely and undoubtedly shootable French double. 48997-1 MGM10 (7,000-12,000) – Lot 3464 Auction: Firearms - October 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE, UNDERSTATED, FRENCH DOUBLE FLINT FOWLER WITH BAYONET BY B.T.E. THOMAS OF ST. ETIENNE.