with slightly swamped rebrowned twist octagonal sighted barrel rifled with seven spiral grooves, gold fore-sight and steel folding leaf back-sight, the latter with small acorn finial, the breech signed in gold capitals, a row of engraved gold beadwork between gold lines at the rear, and struck with London proof marks beneath, gold-lined touch-hole, tang engraved with rocailles and foliage, flat bevelled lock and cock, the former with second form of signature and engraved blued safety-catch, moulded figured half-stock (perhaps reduced from full) carved in low relief in the German fashion with rocailles and scrolling foliage, raised cheek-piece carved en suite at either end, copper-alloy mounts engraved with rococo ornament and foliage, comprising shaped flat bevelled side-plate, butt-plate involving a sun-in-splendour centred on a martial trophy along the heel tang, wooden trigger-guard with engraved copper-alloy strap with pineapple finial, sliding patch-box cover with engraved brass mounts, adjustable set trigger, horn fore-end cap, faceted ramrod-pipes, and later horn-tipped ramrod, 71.7 cm barrel

Provenance

A. Chamberlain, Salisbury: acquired by W. Keith Neal in 1948

W. Keith Neal Collection

Christie’s London, Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection, 9 November 2000, lot 64

Literature

W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, 1989, pp. 57 and 185, pls. 172-176

For Twigg see footnote to lot 103.

Neal and Back (op. cit.) list only eight known Twigg sporting rifles (including a pair, and a converted single), of which this is the most Continental in style.

Offered with a note handwritten and signed by W. Keith Neal giving details of the rifle’s acquisition, its performance when shot by Dick Cooper and giving comments regarding lead ammunition.