Cased 11 bore flintlock sporting gun by Robert McCormick of Dublin dated 1796.
£7995 SALE £4500 SOLD
A fine cased 11 bore flintlock sporting gun by Robert McCormick of Dublin dated 1796. Stepped best quality lock with ‘sun burst’ engraved to the rear of the waterproof pan is inset to the centre with a gold makers tablet signed Mc CORMICK. Walnut sporting half stock with chequered wrist and forend has two barrel retaining keys and finely engraved steel furniture. The apron to the left side behind the side nail having a gold intel escutcheon bearing the crest of the Baron Nugent (George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham (17 June 1753 – 11 February 1813). 39 ¾” long octagonal to round smooth bore browned Damascus barrel with gently flared muzzle has a colour case hardened break off breech with gold band line to the rear and gold touch hole, the top of the breech inlet with a gold makers tablet McCORMICK DUBLIN next to a crown. Foresight with fine white metal inlays forming a sun burst effect and banded decoration at the junction of the octagonal to round transition of the barrel. The underside of the barrel struck with the makers serial number next to date of manufacture AD 1796 with the makers RMC mark next to proof marks on the breech plug. Rib with two rammer pipes to the underside. The barrel tang engraved with a stand of arms. In its green baize lined Mahogony case with a G. W. HAWKSLY powder flask, a Sykes Patent ‘Irish’ stot bag / bandolier, a glass oil bottle, a spring cramp to remove the main spring and a selection of spare flints. A best quality sporting gun made for a senior member of the Irish Nobility of the time. Robert McCormick traded in Belfast and Dublin before later setting up in the US, he is noted as an excellent maker by Keith Neal and Black in their book on the Great British Gunmakers. In very good condition with a good bore and mechanics, fading brown finish to the barrel and a nice sharp stock in a good case with nice accessories. A fine sporting gun by a famous maker to a noble family.
