Original British 12 Bore Long Flintlock Fowling Piece with Birmingham Proofs - Ketland Fur Trade Style - circa 1820

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a lovely British-made 12 Bore Flintlock  fowling piece (shotgun), possibly intended for the fur trade in early 19th Century America. It is very much in the style of many fur trade guns by Ketland, however it does not have any maker markings on the lock plate. It is all brass mounted, with a British style stock using pins to retain the barrel, and does not have any sling swivels or other indicators of military issue.

The only markings we can see on the fowling piece are on the breech end of the barrel, which are the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the City of Birmingham Proof House in use after 1813. There are no bore indications or "Crown /  BP" marking, which were introduced in 1855, so this fowling piece was made prior to that, we estimate about 1820. Ketland was a major manufacturer at the time in Birmingham, so it is very likely that the parts came from the firm.

The gun is in very good shape, and the wood stock is really in great shape, with some lovely checkering around the wrist. There is not any major damage we can see, though there is a hairline crack on the bottom of the fore stock along the ramrod channel. The metalwork shows a lovely oxidized patina on the steel and iron, and the brass portions have a great oxidized yellow color. We checked the lock, and it is functional, however it will fire at both full and half cock. The bore of the barrel shows quite a bit of past fouling and oxidation, so it looks to have seen extensive use.

A lovely long fowling piece from the early 19th century, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c 1820
Caliber: 12 Bore / Gauge - about 0.721 - worn to 0.740"
Cartridge Type: Powder & Shot with Cap
Barrel Length: 42 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 58 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded

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