with shortened three-stage barrel turned at the girdle, octagonal breech becoming polygonal engraved with symmetrical foliage at the rear and signed ‘SHARPE’ along the top flat, border engraved tang finely decorated with scrolling foliage, border engraved lock with slender raised border, signed in capitals (refreshed) and decorated with strawberry foliage inhabited by a bird on the tail, cock (perhaps replaced) and steel engraved with foliage en suite, moulded artificially figured full stock (wormed and repaired, fore-end and ramrod-pipes expertly replaced) with apron around the barrel tang, steel mounts comprising side-plate pierced and chiselled with a grotesque mask centred on scrolling foliage, escutcheon pierced and chiselled with a foliate border, a demi-grotesque mask above and below, border engraved pommel finely decorated on both sides with a winged grotesque amid foliage, and chiselled grotesque mask cap centred on a border of acanthus, trigger-guard with chiselled foliate finial and engraved with strawberry foliage on the bow, scroll trigger, and iron-capped ramrod (some old wear and pitting), 30.8 cm barrel

Provenance

Christie’s South Kensington, The J.C.L. Knapton Collection of Antique Firearms, 28 February 1990, lot 93

Literature

John Cooper, 'John Cosins, Gunmaker of London', The Sixteenth Park Lane Arms Fair Guide, February 1999, pp. 39-40, figs. 12-15

David S. Weaver and Brian Godwin, 'A Transformation in English Gunmaking 1670-1770', London Park Lane Arms Fair Guide, Spring 2010, p. 72, fig. 6(A)

John Cosens (also Cosnes, Cosins, Cozens and Cussens) was free of the Gunmakers’ Company in 1662 and was Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to Charles II. In 1670 he was fined for filing barrels after proof, and was Contractor to Ordnance between 1667 and 1680.