A Double Flintlock Owned By A Signer Of The Declaration Of Independence

[Mulebrain]

I visited a friends shop to drop off an old plains rifle, to see if he can get it back into service. Then he brings out this double to show me the work he did on it. Forgive me for forgetting the signers name I will have to ask him again. This gun was damaged in a flood, along with all it's contents. I will try and get some more pictures and info on it when I go back to his shop.

 

[Rifleman1776]

If (and that is a VERY BIG if) it can be authenticated that it was owned by a signer of the DoI, it is a very valuable item. Authentication is everything.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

A gun owned by a signer of the DOI & it's is abandoned to a flood?????? That's like leaving 6 figures worth of cash behind. What does "This gun was damaged in a flood, along with all it's contents." mean??? Without provenance the story has no merit. I'm not from Missouri, but you need to "Show me" on this one.

 

[Col. Batguano]

true or not, it's a very very nice gun. It looks like the owner has a lot of archive digging to do to authenticate it.

I bought a gun (40 cal 42" GR Douglas bbl Lancaster) a few years ago with a bunch of wire inlay in it. On the butt stock, are inlaid the initials "F" "P" with wire. I have no idea who that was. But when I take it to the range, I tell everybody that it was owned by Fess Parker. You should see them go ga ga then. I've looked around to see if it is even a possibility, and haven't found a picture of Davy or Dan'l the 2nd with it. It's not that well done of a build otherwise so I think it rather unlikely. I have more fun with it telling the story anyway.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Guys,
The gun is a very nice piece made in the 1790s or early 1800's so it may have been owned by a signer later in his life. I believe it is English and I wish the photos were better so we could see the barrel marks and the name on the locks.

dave

 

[Feltwad]

The gun looks typical English London made and resembles the style of John Manton. pity some one had blacked or blued the barrels which should be Damascus brown
Feltwad

 

[Flinty Scot]

It's beautiful, in spite of being flood dampened, regardless of it's historic connection.
I trust it'll get the careful cleaning/restoration it deserves.
Much as I'd love to have the priveledge of guarding it, it belongs in a museum somewhere, available to the most people to see and study.

 

[Mulebrain]

Owned by Thomas Heyward

Thomas Heyward Jr. - Wikipedia.

I will get more info on the back story soon. The gun was converted to percussion, but the original locks were still present

How it was when he got the gun

 

[Notchy Bob]

Regardless of who owned it, this gun started life as a very fine piece, and your buddy did a terrific job of restoration. Looks like it was a virtual "basket case" when he got it. I was astonished to see the percussion conversion was done with whole new locks, and the original flint locks were still intact! That's an impressive collection of accessories, too... Flask, nipple wrench, mainspring vise, wadcutter, an original tin of caps, and other items I can't positively identify from the photo.

That is quite a gun! Thanks for showing it!

Notchy Bob

 

[OLUT]

The lock SEEMS to be engraved Joseph Manton. I'm definitely NOT an expert, but the engraving looks the same as on my Manton flint conversion. Likewise the silver rectangular stamped inlays on the top of the breech are the same. When your friend had the barrel off the stock, hopefully he noted the serial number and proof marks stamped

on the bottom of the barrels. Somebody smarter than I should be able to date the gun from them