Product Details
PAULY, PARIS
AN UNUSUAL 20-BORE CAPPING BREECH-LOADING DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, serial no. 72,
circa 1822, converted from Paulys patent central-fire system, with 29 1/2in. twist steel barrels, signed in gilded script at the breech-ends 'INVENTION PAULY' and 'BREVETTE A PARIS', together with various arabesques and scrolls (some loss to gilding), further gilded decoration around the silver fore-sight and the muzzles (worn), two stamped 'proof' marks at breech, lift-up breech block with extended top-tang locking into the front of the comb, the action body-sides reduced to allow the replacement hammers to strike conventional nipples, the lock mechanism itself concealed within the wood-work of the stock, chequered walnut half-stock, with slightly raised grip section, raised cheek-piece on the left hand side, crescent iron butt-plate, engraved iron trigger-guard, and provision for ramrod, TOGETHER WITH two brass cartridge heads
Provenance: This Lot is accompanied by a hand-written note from a previous owner explaining how he came to have the gun. It reads:
"After the retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne and Aisne, we entrained and moved up to Ypres. I bought this gun from the Maire of a village and later requisitioned 200 cartridges from the Maire of Hazebrouck who was a parson. It brought us many pheasants (a pleasant change from dog biscuit and bully beef). 'Bunny' Austin (the son of the Austin car man) was sent to us for a week's experience, and as a divisional order had just come out prohibiting shotguns I got him to take it back to London for me."
Other Notes: The shotgun appeared on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow on November 2003 when it was appraised by Bill Harriman.
Estimate £1,000-2,000