Product Details
AN UNUSUAL SILVER-MOUNTED 12-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMERGUN, CONVERTED FROM MUZZLE LOADING BY P. CORIN, 30in. replacement nitro barrels, rib engraved ' CONVERTED BY PHILIP H. CORIN. PENZANCE.', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. and 3/4 choke, treble-grip action with crossbolt, some colour-hardening, rebounding sidelocks with game scene engraving, silver triggerguard and triggerguard tang, William IV Birmingham hall marks for 1835 and makers mark 'H.S.', traces of game scene engraving, 14 1/8in. highly-figured birds-eye maple stock (cracked at head), similarly hallmarked silver buttplate with border engraving and the inscription 'PRESENTED BY F.S.U.H.H.R.W. BENTLEY INNES TO JOHN BREMNER 1882', fore-end with associated silver finial, weight 7lb. 11oz.
Provenance: Frederick Bentley married Henrietta Innes of Thrumster House in 1863 and took her name in addition to his own in recognition of her family's stature and wealth. They were a popular couple and Thrumster was the scene of many house-parties during their custody.
John Bremner was born in Aberdeenshire but emigrated to Iowa, U.S.A. in early adulthood. The link between the two men is not clear, but it seems safe to reason that this gun was presented by Bentley-Innes to his friend on the occasion of his emigration.
Bremner then moved far north to Alaska and lived amongst the Yellowknife Indians of the Copper River, him being recorded there in 1884. Early the following year he joined the expedition party of Lt. Henry Tureman Allen, travelling 1,500 miles along the un-charted territory of the Koyukuk, Tanana and Copper Rivers. The journey took over a year and was subsequently described as "one of the greater explorations of North America". Allen Glacier and Mt. Allen, near the head of the Tanana, are named after the party's leader.
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Estimate £300-500
S2