VERY FINE BALES BRASS CANNON BARREL BLUNDERBUSS WITH FOLDING SPRING BAYONET.

VERY FINE BALES BRASS CANNON BARREL BLUNDERBUSS WITH FOLDING SPRING BAYONET. SN NSN. Cal. .600 1.4″ at muzzle. This well made blunderbuss signed “Bales” (most probably John Bales, London ca. 1822), has 14″ octagon to round brass bbl with wedding band transition, extending to nicely flared and turned cannon muzzle, top of which is mounted with pivot and latch for 13″ triangular spring loaded steel bayonet, which folds back over top of bbl, and is retained by sliding latch mounted on bbl tang. There are some sprigs of acanthus engraving on octagonal part of bbl, which is also stamped with Birmingham proofs. Nicely filed high quality lock has semi-waterproof pan with bridled friction frizzen. Roller is on frizzen spring which has nicely filed teardrop finial with tit. Cleanly chamfered and line border engraved lockplate with rebated tail is mounted with flat-faced chamfered serpentine cock. A sliding safety bolt is mounted at rear of cock. Lockplate has some feather and stand-of-arms engraving behind cock. “Bales” is in front of cock. Relatively plain European walnut stock is mounted to bbl with two side nails, and is brass mounted. Top tang of buttplate and trigger guard bow are engraved with stand-of-arms. Trigger guard has stylized pineapple finial. Grip is checkered with 20 LPI square checkering with mullered borders. Ramrod pipes are of brass. Tail pipe is nicely filed. Ramrod is missing. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl is a gold to red brown patina. Bayonet with some surface oxidation, is mostly gray brown. Lock is brown with some pinprick pitting, but with a considerable amount of what appears to be orig bright polish, showing through a layer of grime. Stock retains most of its orig finish. All edges are sharp, with numerous marks and dings. Brass furniture is nicely toned to a dark gold. Front ramrod pipe appears to be a very old replacement. Lock and frizzen are crisp. Spring bayonet is intact, and also in fine working order. A very fine, essentially untouched, example. 4-42670 MGM106 (2,000-4,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2352A	$4,600.00	VERY FINE BALES BRASS CANNON BARREL BLUNDERBUSS WITH FOLDING SPRING BAYONET. SN NSN. Cal. .600 1.4″ at muzzle. This well made blunderbuss signed “Bales” (most probably John Bales, London ca. 1822), has 14″ octagon to round brass bbl with wedding band transition, extending to nicely flared and turned cannon muzzle, top of which is mounted with pivot and latch for 13″ triangular spring loaded steel bayonet, which folds back over top of bbl, and is retained by sliding latch mounted on bbl tang. There are some sprigs of acanthus engraving on octagonal part of bbl, which is also stamped with Birmingham proofs. Nicely filed high quality lock has semi-waterproof pan with bridled friction frizzen. Roller is on frizzen spring which has nicely filed teardrop finial with tit. Cleanly chamfered and line border engraved lockplate with rebated tail is mounted with flat-faced chamfered serpentine cock. A sliding safety bolt is mounted at rear of cock. Lockplate has some feather and stand-of-arms engraving behind cock. “Bales” is in front of cock. Relatively plain European walnut stock is mounted to bbl with two side nails, and is brass mounted. Top tang of buttplate and trigger guard bow are engraved with stand-of-arms. Trigger guard has stylized pineapple finial. Grip is checkered with 20 LPI square checkering with mullered borders. Ramrod pipes are of brass. Tail pipe is nicely filed. Ramrod is missing. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl is a gold to red brown patina. Bayonet with some surface oxidation, is mostly gray brown. Lock is brown with some pinprick pitting, but with a considerable amount of what appears to be orig bright polish, showing through a layer of grime. Stock retains most of its orig finish. All edges are sharp, with numerous marks and dings. Brass furniture is nicely toned to a dark gold. Front ramrod pipe appears to be a very old replacement. Lock and frizzen are crisp. Spring bayonet is intact, and also in fine working order. A very fine, essentially untouched, example. 4-42670 MGM106 (2,000-4,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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.

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