‡˜A 20 BORE SPANISH MADRID-LOCK SPORTING CARBINE BY FRANCISCO TAGARONA, MADRID, DATED 1788 with two-stage barrel retained by two slender iron bands (areas of rust), fitted with gold 'spider' fore-sight, chiselled and gilt girdle, signed and dated in gold over the breech and with the gold-lined barrelsmith's marks (Neue Støckel 1076 and 1077), engraved tang, bevelled lock signed and dated within panels and engraved with scrolls en rocaille, full stock (fore-end repaired), fluted butt, engraved iron mounts including signed trigger-guard en suite with the lock and butt-plate, and ivory-tipped wooden ramrod 63.0 cm; 24 3/4 in barrel Provenance Sotheby's, 14th March 1978, lot 196. Francisco Targarona (active 1773-1808) was court gunmaker to Carlos IV, King of Spain (1748-1819).