EXTREMELY FINE NICHOLAS BOUTET DOUBLE FLINT GAME GUN.

EXTREMELY FINE NICHOLAS BOUTET DOUBLE FLINT GAME GUN. SN 325. Cal. Approx. 20 Bore. 29″ Twist barrels with low, smooth concave rib are inlaid in gold with “Boutet”, on the left bbl, “325” (the order number) on the rib and “A Versailles” on right bbl. Gold inlaid lettering is in large Gothic script with scroll flourishes at each end. Breech end of each bbl has 4 gold filled Poincons, 2 being “NB” for Nicholas Boutet (Boutet’s monograph from 1800-1804), another in an elongated rectangle marked “Boutet”(marked as such from 1805-1814) as well as a small oval with an eagle, the “state control mark”. There is gold wash banding at breech and muzzle ends, as well as elliptical gold wash on either end of front sight bead which is 3-1/2″ back from muzzle. Touch holes and pans are lined with platinum. Case hardened breech iron is deeply cut away so eye can align with rib. Beautifully filed locks with inset chamfered borders and have semi-waterproof platinum lined pans. The intricately filed frizzens and French style cocks have matching chamfers. There are no rollers on frizzens or springs. Left lock plate is engraved “Boutet” and right “A Versailles.” in large Gothic letters. Trigger plate has intricately filed vase and flower shaped termination with no engraving. Trigger guard shows fine file work. Nicely streaked European walnut swan neck stock terminates in finely checkered steel buttplate with intricately filed tang in same style as trigger plate. Stock features include: Sling eye on toe line; Long shadow line cheek rest; Long diamond 20 LPI borderless checkering in fancy scalloped pattern. Thimble has sling loop. There are no ramrod pipes on barrel. Ramrod is made of baleen, and when in stock it slides down into butt with only 5-1/2″ extending from nose pipe. Rod has brass tip and steel worm at tail under brass cap. PROVENANCE: H.H. Thomas Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain 25 – 35% of their two-tone finish, half brown half blue. Breech end of bbls being light brown with fire blue forward half flaking to medium patina toward muzzles. Breech iron shows strong traces of original case color but mostly turned silver. Lockplates are smooth, silvered with traces of muted color turning brown toward tails. Some blue remains on triggers and frizzen springs. Stock has most of an old oil finish with numerous compressions and marks. There are repairs to wood at side nail and right side of forend. Nose pipe has a repaired break, previously welded and needs more attention. Bores are good. Locks and frizzens are crisp. A lovely gun produced when the French makers were at the pinnacle of the trade at the time of Restoration and King Louis XVIII. 4-36652 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2558	$13,800.00	EXTREMELY FINE NICHOLAS BOUTET DOUBLE FLINT GAME GUN. SN 325. Cal. Approx. 20 Bore. 29″ Twist barrels with low, smooth concave rib are inlaid in gold with “Boutet”, on the left bbl, “325” (the order number) on the rib and “A Versailles” on right bbl. Gold inlaid lettering is in large Gothic script with scroll flourishes at each end. Breech end of each bbl has 4 gold filled Poincons, 2 being “NB” for Nicholas Boutet (Boutet’s monograph from 1800-1804), another in an elongated rectangle marked “Boutet”(marked as such from 1805-1814) as well as a small oval with an eagle, the “state control mark”. There is gold wash banding at breech and muzzle ends, as well as elliptical gold wash on either end of front sight bead which is 3-1/2″ back from muzzle. Touch holes and pans are lined with platinum. Case hardened breech iron is deeply cut away so eye can align with rib. Beautifully filed locks with inset chamfered borders and have semi-waterproof platinum lined pans. The intricately filed frizzens and French style cocks have matching chamfers. There are no rollers on frizzens or springs. Left lock plate is engraved “Boutet” and right “A Versailles.” in large Gothic letters. Trigger plate has intricately filed vase and flower shaped termination with no engraving. Trigger guard shows fine file work. Nicely streaked European walnut swan neck stock terminates in finely checkered steel buttplate with intricately filed tang in same style as trigger plate. Stock features include: Sling eye on toe line; Long shadow line cheek rest; Long diamond 20 LPI borderless checkering in fancy scalloped pattern. Thimble has sling loop. There are no ramrod pipes on barrel. Ramrod is made of baleen, and when in stock it slides down into butt with only 5-1/2″ extending from nose pipe. Rod has brass tip and steel worm at tail under brass cap. PROVENANCE: H.H. Thomas Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Bbls retain 25 – 35% of their two-tone finish, half brown half blue. Breech end of bbls being light brown with fire blue forward half flaking to medium patina toward muzzles. Breech iron shows strong traces of original case color but mostly turned silver. Lockplates are smooth, silvered with traces of muted color turning brown toward tails. Some blue remains on triggers and frizzen springs. Stock has most of an old oil finish with numerous compressions and marks. There are repairs to wood at side nail and right side of forend. Nose pipe has a repaired break, previously welded and needs more attention. Bores are good. Locks and frizzens are crisp. A lovely gun produced when the French makers were at the pinnacle of the trade at the time of Restoration and King Louis XVIII. 4-36652 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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