Springhill long-gun
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1689
Materials
iron, wood, silver
Measurements
196.8 cm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Springhill, County Londonderry
NT 215612
Caption
Springhill's Long Gun was presented to Alderman James Lenox, after the Siege of Derry in 1689. He was onboard the ship Mountjoy that broke the boom and ended the siege. As well as being a close friend of "Good Will" Conyngham, the first gentleman of the house, his great-grandson George Lenox-Conyngham inherited the house through his mother Ann Conyngham, and was the gentleman who brought the two families together in his surname.
Summary
Percussion sporting gun, c1840, constructed to incorporate a 17th century gun barrel of great length. 'Springhill long-gun'. Presented to Alderman James Lenox after the seige of Londonderry, 1689.
Full description
Percussion sporting gun, c1840, constructed to incorporate a 17th century gun barrel of great length. This gun was reputedly presented to Alderman James Lenox after the siege of Londonderry in 1689. However, the barrel is typical of those made in the Dutch East Indies during the second half of the 17th century for export to Holland, where it would have been mounted on a flintlock fowling piece. Many examples are known including a group at the National Museum, Copenhagen. The barrel of the Springhill gun has been remounted on a 19th century percussion sporting gun, the lock signed Dowling - possibly William Dowling, Manchester 1829 -1847. The long round iron barrel of tapered form is profusley decorated over its entire length with inlaid silver scrolls and foliage. Later under-rib with 3 ramrod pipes (muzzle pipe missing). Percussion breech and nipple. Bead fore-sight and raised rear-sight. Retained to the stock by 2 barrel-slides. Wooden ramrod. Barrel length 155cm. Calibre 14mm. Walnut half-stock, with a chequered wrist. Engraved iron furniture comprising; butt-plate, trigger guard and 1 ramrod pipe. Horn fore-end cap. Percussion back-action lock, of flat form, engraved with the makers name DOWLING. Retained to the stock by 1 side-nail. Overall length: 196.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
Lockplate: Dowling
References
Dutch Firearms, Chapter XI - Oriental Guns and Pistols