Flintlock blunderbuss
Jonathan Stanton (fl.1739-1766)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1755
Materials
walnut, steel, iron & silver
Measurements
125 mm (Width) x 65 mm (Depth); 890 mm (L)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 108523.2
Summary
One of a rare pair of fine quality iron barrelled flintlock blunderbusses, circa 1755, by Jonathan Stanton, London (fl. 1739-1766).
Full description
One of a rare pair of fine quality iron barrelled flintlock blunderbusses, circa 1755, by Jonathan Stanton, London (fl. 1739-1766). Iron barrel formed in 3 stages, octagonal at the breech, becoming 16 sided, then round to the muzzle, each stage separated by a turned moulding. The breech stamped with London Gunmakers Company proof marks and the makers mark, IS under a fleur-de-lys, and signed, STANTON, LONDON. Raised silver fore-sight. Engraved barrel tang. Secured to the stock by 2 barrel slides. Wooden ramrod (1 tip missing). Barrel length 50.5cm & 49cm. Diameter at muzzle 30mm. Walnut full stock, with a shell carving behind the barrel tang. Engraved iron furniture comprising; butt-plate, trigger guard with acanthus leaf finial, side-plate with retaining screw and 2 ramrod pipes. Silver escutcheon in the form of a collared bird. Scroll form iron trigger. Plain flintlock, the plate of round section, signed STANTON. The frizzen with an unusual safetly design, the base or pan cover formed as a separate element, thus allowing the frizzen to be pushed forward while the cover remains in place over the pan. The 2 elements of the frizzen are kept together by a sprung latch which is released by a button on the frizzen back. Overall length 89.5cm & 86.7cm (pair)
Provenance
Purchased in 1987 by the National Trust from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000).
Marks and inscriptions
STANTON LONDON (maker's mark, incised, top of barrel, text)
Makers and roles
Jonathan Stanton (fl.1739-1766) , gunsmith
References
Blackmore, 1986: Howard Blackmore: A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850