Product Details
FOSTER & WOODWARD and WOODWARD & CO, DONCASTER
AN EXCEPTIONALLY UNUSUAL CASED COLLECTION OF FOUR PERCUSSION SPORTING ARMS, serial no's 132, 143, 1142 & none visible,
THE FIRST circa 1841 and a Birmingham proved 13-bore double-barrelled sporting gun, with re-browned 30in. damascus barrels signed 'WOODWARD & FOSTER, PATENT GUNMAKERS, DONCASTER' (refreshed), engraved band and gold line at breech (some cleaning and mild pitting), the rib-end inlaid with an engraved gold pheasant, fully scroll engraved top-tang, borderline and acanthus scroll engraved bar-action locks signed on an engraved stone tablet 'WOODWARD & FOSTER' beneath the branches of an ancient oak together with a bolting rabbit, the right side with a similar signature with two pheasants, scroll engraved slab-sided dolphin headed hammers, walnut half-stock with chequered grip, silver clipped-corner rectangular escutcheon monogrammed 'H.B.' beneath a wreathed goat's head, iron scroll engraved heel-plate (some refreshment), iron trigger-guard tang, the bow engraved with a hunting dog (refreshed), the finial engraved with a partridge, engraved ramrod throat and two ramrod thimbles with rolled ends, replacement wood ramrod,
THE SECOND circa 1842 and an 11-bore London proved single-barrelled fowling piece with browned twist-iron round barrel signed 'WOODWARD & CO, PATENT GUNMAKERS, DONCASTER', makers mark of 'C.L.' for 'Charles Lancaster', bead fore-sight, carved short sighting rib at breech-end, scroll engraved patent squared colour-hardened breech-block with one platinum and one gold line, florally engraved platinum plug, blued shell and scroll engraved top-tang, bar-action lock engraved in a similar fashion to the left-hand lock of the first but signed 'WOODWARD & CO', carved scroll engraved dolphin-headed hammer, walnut half-stock with dark ebonised stain, chequered at the wrist and bearing similar escutcheon to the first, iron heel-plate with and engraving of pheasants beneath an oak-tree within a borderline and scroll engraved panel (much colour remaining), border engraved trigger-guard bow with a central engraving of a bolting rabbit beneath an oak-tree, finial engraved similar to the first, turned ramrod throat and two plain ramrod thimbles, original brass-mounted ramrod, the whole in fine condition with a good amount of original finish throughout,
THE THIRD circa 1847 and a fine Birmingham proved 14-bore single-barrelled big-game rifle, the browned damascus octagonal multi-grooved rifled 32 1/2in. barrel signed 'WOODWARD & CO PATENT GUNMAKERS DONCASTER', blued dove-tailed bead fore-sight, blued standing notch rear-sight with three further folding leaves with central platinum lines, scroll engraved and banded colour-hardened squared patent breech-block with one gold and one platinum line, platinum vent, colour hardened sunburst and fully scroll engraved top-tang, border and acanthus scroll engraved bar-action lock signed 'WOODWARD & CO' (much faded colour remaining), scroll engraved slab-sided hammer with applied flash-guard and rear-mounted sliding safe to the lock-tail, birds-eye maple chequered half-stock (slight damage to left hand rear of fore-end), carved raised cheek-piece, colour-hardened hinged circular border and scroll engraved patch-box to rear-right of butt, blued iron heel-plate with long top-spur, oval silver escutcheon engraved as the first, blued iron trigger-guard tang with chequered pistol-grip spur and scroll engraved tip, acanthus border and scroll engraved blued trigger-guard bow, set-trigger, bombe finial, turned ramrod throat and horn fore-end tip, two plain thimbles and heavy mushroom-headed brass tipped mahogany ramrod and large dome-headed sling stud to underside of butt, the whole in fine condition with much original finish and colour and appearing little used,
THE LAST circa 1850 and a rare breech-loading Birmingham proved 54-bore park-rifle (converted from muzzle-loading), the browned twist-iron multi-grooved rifled octagonal tapering 30 1/2 barrel signed 'GUN MAKERS DONCASTER', dove-tailed blade fore-sight, dove-tailed standing-notch rear-sight, colour-hardened breech-block with rotating engraved drum tap with colour-hardened folding lever, twin gold bands and engraved 'PATENT', fan and scroll engraved top-tang, border and acanthus scroll engraved back-action lock signed 'WOODWARD & CO', scroll engraved slab-sided dolphin headed hammer, chequered maple half-stock adapted for the conversion (small loss to wood forwards of loading tap) silver oval escutcheon to the wrist engraved as the first, iron heel-plate, the top-spur engraved with a pointer and game-bird (some blue remaining, blued trigger-guard tang and border and scroll engraved bow, turned ramrod throat and two plain ramrod thimbles, complete with its original brass mounted ebony ramrod, the whole with a good amount of colour and finish, THE FOUR GUNS TOGETHER WITH a large two-tiered mahogany brass-bound storage case, the interior compartmented and lined in turquoise velvet, the lid interior bearing a parchment label for 'Woodward & Foster Patent Gun Makers, Doncaster' (torn, losses), the case containing the four guns and a fine brass six-cavity gang-mould for gun three, a similar gang-mould and the original percussion breech-block for gun four plus various flasks, cap-tins, loading rods and a mallet, the outer lid with circular ring handle and central escutcheon monogrammed 'T.D.', further ring-handle to end of case (defective) and sliding brass locks (some compartments loose, hinge fragile)
Provenance: These guns could have been made for the Bowser family of Doon, near Dunblane. 'HB' would be Howard Bowser, born 1825, an Iron Founder
Please click HERE to view Terms & Conditions.
Estimate £12,000-16,000