A RARE NAVAL SEVEN BARRELLED FLINTLOCK VOLLEY GUN BY HENRY NOCK, TOWER PROOF MARKS, CIRCA 1780 with browned sighted barrels signed H. Nock' ahead of the lock, plain action tang with sighting groove, bevelled lock engraved with 'Tower' and 'GR' crowned, stamped 'HN' inside (mainspring broken), figured walnut butt impressed 'VII' inside the lock cavity, regulation brass mounts including side-plate and three ramrod-pipes, the forward ramrod-pipe with sprung steel catch (trigger-guard missing), and contemporary steel ramrod (the steel parts with areas of wear, stock bruised) 50.8cm; 20in barrels Nock's Sea Service Volley guns were designed to provide an effective means of clearing the enemy decks and fighting tops of sharpshooters. Sharpshooters in the tops were both a danger to the enemy and themselves. The dramatic fire on the Orient at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 was apparently caused this way, afterwards Nelson banned the use of such weapons and consequently the French sniper that fired the fatal shot at Trafalgar went unmolested. It was of little consolation to the British to read after the battle that one of the French sharpshooters had set fire to their own vessel, as Nelson had predicted. See H.L. Blackmore 1955, pp.165-192.