‡A RARE SIX BORE FLINTLOCK WALL GUN BY MORTIMER, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON, CIRCA 1776-1782 with slightly swamped sighted barrel retained by two slender bands and a broad band fitted with stirrup swivel mount (the band and mount later), the breech formed with a raised moulding, grooved for sighting, struck with Tower private proof marks and the barrelsmith's initials of Edward Jordan, grooved tang, border-engraved lock finely engraved with the White Tower, signed in full on the tail, stamped twice on the inside with the maker's initials 'EI', en suite with the tang, fitted with border-engraved cock, pan and steel, full stock carved with an apron moulding about the tang (light worm damage, small areas of bruising), border-engraved brass mounts of regulation type comprising flush-fitting side-plate, trigger-guard with a stylised flowerhead on the bow and foliate terminal, butt-plate decorated with scrollwork and foliage, vacant escutcheon, and original iron ramrod 96.5 cm; 38 in barrel Provenance Norm Flayderman, 1997 Harvey Walklate (1) Mortimer worked at 41 Great Queen Street, Lincolns Inn Fields, between 5th June 1776 and 10th January 1782. This is one of only two firearms by him with this address. Edward Jordan (1733-58) was a barrel and lockmaker to the Ordnance. Given the earlier date of the barrel and lock it is likely that Mortimer acquired these elements following Jordan's death, probably at auction. This practice was not uncommon, the Ordnance department held semi annual auctions to dispose of unwanted, damaged or worn out goods of all sorts. The stock in trade of Joseph Heylin was sold at auction following his bankruptcy, on 23rd October 1779, this sale included a number of items among which were 'sundry wall Pieces'. A blunderbuss of circa 1750 by Thomas Hatcher and a musket of 1739 by Wolldridge with a similar engravings of the White Tower are preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. nos. XII.1507 and XII.262). See Blackmore 1986, p. 110 and ffoulkes 1915, p. 363 no. 262.